What is more relevant - Anti-virus or anti-malware software?

[Dos_Box]

Following a conversation @ZeroHour and I had yersterday afternoon whilst I was looking at purchasing some security software for my families laptops we evntually came to the conclusion that we teneded to use anti-malware software more than AV these day.

Or to be more exact, saw malware as a bigger threat than viruses as it was then thing we tended to search for first when encountering computers with issues and more than likely that malware would be detected rather than a virus.

So, how do you sit on this? Malware or Av, and what do you use at home and work to protect against malware?

I didn't set a 'Both' option on the poll as I wanted to find out which you tended to get the best results from.

Oh, and I brought a 3 licence version of Malwarebytes (we already use the 'full' version on EduGeek devices) and used the free Sophos Home package which is pretty good for a free product and allows me some web filtering for the kids laptops. Not bad for a free package

Edited May 4, 2016 by Dos_Box

[Michael]

I agree - Malware is definitely more of an issue these days as unlike a typical virus, it interacts with the vulnerable/uneducated end user who clicks 'Yes' to that 1 Million Dollars when they shouldn't

[Steve21]

Run both at home. Malwarebytes (Full version but old user before it went to subscription based), and paid for AV too (The shock I know )

 

But that's only mainly because I do a lot of techy/playing tools on the computer, on the rest of the families they generally just use a free AV as they do so little important stuff on those machine

 

Steve

[Dos_Box]

Given the nastyness of a lot of modern malware I'm wondering why the lines between viruses and malware have not becomed more blurred and what they still need seperate products/modules (profits perhaps?).

I'm also a little awed about how easy it is for malware to find its way onto systems. I had once recently where a Chrome plugin (which I suspect Malwarebytes had disabled) kept finding it's way into my browser (I hadn't installed it) and had spread to many areas.

It was inactive and MWB cleaned it up but the fact it kept finding it's way in was disturbing.

[RichCowell]

I've never had any issues on personal devices with either viruses or malware, but I've got Norton Internet Security on my PCs, and always have MWB installed, but just the free version that I run occasionally...

 

I definitely come across more malware related issues than virus though, and always recommend MWB to people...

 

I'm also surprised more vendors haven't merged the two - seems like a logical step for similar threats...

[mavhc]

I've always just thought of malware as being a superset of viruses, spyware, adware, trojans etc.

 

And the answer to what you need is: Not Windows

[Michael]

One of the biggest issues now is cross-OS malware, typically exploiting the likes of Java.

[Sagima]

I've always just thought of malware as being a superset of viruses, spyware, adware, trojans etc.

 

Yes - I tend to think of it this way as well

[Joanne]

Computers at home just run Windows Defender and I use Malwarebytes if I need to.

 

Mac has Sophos installed.

 

Not really had any issues and I browse to a site that google deems unsafe on a semi-regular basis *ahem* YARRRR.

[Dos_Box]

Out of interest, how big a problem is malware in schools?

[Michael]

Out of interest, how big a problem is malware in schools?

 

I'd say it's comparatively low due to hardware firewalls in place (in most instances).

[RichCowell]

Out of interest, how big a problem is malware in schools?

 

I've had it on some staff laptops that are used at home - usually by their children on game sites etc... but not had any on PCs or devices kept in school. Not heard of many cases of it affecting devices/networks...

[mavhc]

When I started here everyone had admin rights (*boggle*) so it was a problem. Now no one does, and SRP, so not a problem

[Joanne]

Out of interest, how big a problem is malware in schools?

 

Only a problem on machines that get taken home as @RichCowell said. Always easily dealt with when it does happen.

[difinity]

As mavhc says, malware covers all malicious software. Spyware, ransomware, trojans, worms, adware and viruses.

Not running as Admin helps mitigate attacks, granted running some anti malware/virus software is better than none, but it still gives a false level of security I feel. "ooh i have antivirus i can click random links and open emails as I'm protected".

I've spent 15 years cleaning infected machines and have seen every home solution compromised both paid and free and also Sophos and Microsoft Enterprise solutions beaten.

Chrome seems especially easy to compromise with tainted addons/extensions.

[2ilent8cho]

We had ransomeware at one of our primaries last year on a staff laptop, she admitted that she had been trying to download game of thrones episodes and then it all went wrong. I don't really see virus's much anymore its always malware.