Laptop Antivirus
Laptops are no longer just a luxury addition to the traditional desktop computer. It’s now much more common for laptops to be the only type of computer in a household. And why not! They are much more convenient and can go with you anywhere.
Sadly, too many owners have failed to realize the additional dangers that come from using a laptop. Just as it’s much more convenient for you to use, it's also much more convenient for hackers to infect with viruses and malware.
Getting a top of the line antivirus for your laptop is essential so your dream computer doesn’t become a nightmare.
What Does An Antivirus Do?
An antivirus is a shield that keeps your laptop safe cybercriminals and their efforts to use your machine and personal information for their own gain. To do that they monitor your device for suspicious activity that may be a sign of an infection.
Should you antivirus find a potential threat, it first stop it in its tracks, then the antivirus software will give you the choice to either delete, quarantine, or ignore the program.
Deletion is the safest option and will completely remove the malware from your laptop. Sometimes the virus has rooted itself in such a way that deletion is not an option, in that case quarantining it will lock it away so it can’t do any harm. On the off chance that the antivirus flags a program you deliberately installed, you can ignore the warning and the antivirus will lead the program run as intended.
This level of protection from an antivirus is the most basic but for a laptop, there is much more you should consider.
Why Is Proper Laptop Security Essential?
The main benefit of a laptop over a traditional desktop PC is that it allows for greater mobility. With a laptop bringing your work out of the office and onto a sunny coffee shop terrace is an easy endeavor. Essentially anywhere with wifi is your office! And therein lies the danger.
Your home or work network is relatively secure because only you and people you know have easy access to it. But public wifi is open to anyone willing to ask the barista for the password. If that person happens to be a cybercriminal, they’ve been given a direct line to every else sharing the connection.
Then, of course, there’s the fact that unlike with a desktop, it’s not unthinkable that a laptop will be lost or stolen. All it takes is a moment of inattentiveness for a thief to swipe your laptop and gain access to all of your personal data.
These dangers are why the best antivirus software for laptops include firewalls to keep you safe on public wifi, and laptop specific safety features, like the ability to find your device, and even remotely wipe it.
What Is The Best Antivirus For Laptops?
Finding the best antivirus software for your laptop is going to depend on many factors, so there is no right answer that applies to everyone. The main consideration for many people looking for malware protection is price. While there are many free antiviruses, and your system may come with a built-in protection programs like Windows Defender, it’s worth remembering that you get what you pay for.
When considering all the data your laptop contains the price of a subscription for a top of the line antivirus protection is small compared to the peace of mind it brings. We’ve compiled reviews from industry experts to make finding the right antivirus a little easier.