These features are essential for good Antivirus protection

These features are essential for good Antivirus protection

A pure Antivirus scanner, as many programs had as the only defense a few years ago and which free antivirus programs or Internet security suites bring with them, has long since ceased to offer adequate protection against data theft or keyloggers. This is why major manufacturers such as Protegent have equipped their security programs with a number of features that provide all-round protection for your computer while surfing the net.

We want to introduce these features to you in more detail in the following paragraphs.

• Real-time scan: The real-time scan runs continuously in the background and monitors all access to the computer. When users start a program or open a file, the real-time protection checks whether this or it poses a threat. This means that users are always well protected against malware - even in real time. The real-time scan puts additional strain on the PC system, which can be very noticeable on older computers. Modern computers have fewer problems.

• Quick scan: An essential function that every product has in our Antivirus software scanner comparison is the quick scan- a quick way to scan your computer. While a manual scan can take a long time, the quick scan has the advantage that the entire check only takes a few minutes or even seconds. To ensure this speed, a quick scan only checks areas that are very vulnerable, such as newly added system files. The quick scan is suitable as a quick security check, but it offers significantly less security than a detailed, manual scan of the PC system.

• Manual scan: The classic virus scan, also known to some as "on-demand scan", is the manual scan. With a manual scan, the virus scanner examines the entire hard drive for malware. It has to be started manually by the user, hence the name. It is a very thorough examination of the PC system, but depending on the size of the hard drive and the speed of the PC, it can take several minutes or hours. During this time, the computer cannot be used for other purposes due to the high system load.

• Phishing protection: Many of the programs in our virus scanner comparison can connect to common browsers such as Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome with a so-called "add-on". The virus scanner uses this link to check the displayed links and search engine results for their security. It immediately blocks links with suspected phishing or malware. In some cases, this protection also extends to social networks such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 

• E-mail protection: A typical gateway for viruses and worms is one's own e-mail inbox. For this reason, an essential feature is good email protection that checks incoming messages for suspicious links or attachments. The e-mail protection filters out unwanted e-mails - they never get into the mailbox.

• Ransomware Protection: Ransomwareis a new type of malware. The malware locks personal folders on the hard drive and demands a kind of “ransom payment” so that users can access the data again. All reputable security systems offer good protection against ransomware. The example of ransomware shows why it is always important to keep your virus scanner up to date. Under no circumstances should consumers pay the ransom note if they are affected by ransomware. The stolen data is lost and cannot be recovered. Those who pay the blackmailers only suffer additional financial damage.

• Rescue mode: Viruses that have lodged in the boot sector are not removed as long as Windows doesrunning. They can be booted from the PC with an external data carrier. The creation of such a "rescue data carrier" is one of the most important functions of good anti-virus software. This data carrier can be a CD or a USB stick , for example. It contains everything necessary to restart the computer and remove malware to free. However, users only get maximum security for their computers with a strong Internet Security Suite. Their typical components such as their own firewall, a secure browser or good child protection ensure a new level of security.

Important criteria when buying an Antivirus scanner

As a layman, it is very easy to lose track in the jungle of different offers and manufacturers. One security software differs from the other in its functions: There are sometimes serious differences in the security, operation or support of the program. These are important tips for getting a good virus scanner: