The focus of this category is on antivirus software, or software designed to detect, prohibit, and/or remove viruses and other forms of malware, as well as other security software.
Cybersecurity organizations, agencies, or informational sites should be listed in the Security category. A link is provided below. This category is specific to software.
Typically, a computer virus attaches itself to another software program and reproduces itself without the computer user's consent, attaching itself to other useful programs installed on the same computer, spreading to other computers. Although a computer virus is not necessarily harmful to the computers they are installed on, they certainly can be. Some of the more destructive ones can wipe out everything stored on the computer.
Computer viruses include at least two basic parts, or functions. To be a computer virus, there must be a search routine that locates new targets for infection, which may include new programs or disks that the virus has access to. Secondly, every computer virus must have the ability to copy itself into the programs or disks that the search routine locates. Generally, both the search and copy routines will be simple, since more sophisticated routines will take up more space, and would be more likely to cause unusual disk activity, subsequently being more vulnerable to detection.
In addition to search and copy routines, computer viruses are likely to include various anti-detection routines, which may be as simple as ensuring that the date on a file remains the same after a virus infects it, or complex routines that disguise viruses, tricking antivirus programs into believing that they are not there. Some viruses have been created with the ability to turn the antivirus program itself against the computer content.
Most early viruses were designed to be harmless, more as pranks than anything else, but today's viruses tend to be more nefarious. They may include destructive routines designed to wipe out data on any disks they infect. Others are designed to take over the host computer, as is the case with ransomware.
A virus can be written to infect any type of code, even programming code that needs to be compiled or interpreted before it can be executed. Thus, a virus can infect source code, batch files, textfiles, a database, or the markup code on a webpage.
Although viruses can be written in any programming language, the most successful ones are written in assembly language.
Most computer viruses target the Microsoft Windows operating system, but this is only because Windows dominates the computer market. Any type of computer system or OS is potentially susceptible to viruses and malware.
Antivirus software was developed to detect, isolate, or remove computer viruses, and that continues to be the focal point of antivirus software, although most antivirus programs are also designed to deal with other types of malware, which may include adware, backdoors, browser hijackers, keyloggers, spyware, trojans, ransomware, worms, and other unwanted intrusions and security issues. Some products include protection from infected URLs, spam, phishing attacks, privacy threats, and various online scams.
Antivirus and anti-malware software is the focus of topics in this category, whether these are comprehensive software suites or smaller programs designed to assist with only one or a couple of these issues. Other computer security software may also be appropriate for this category.
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Developed by Lavasoft, Adaware has been distributed in several configurations and editions since the first product was released in 1999, currently offering Free, Pro, or Total antivirus protection for Windows, or an ad-blocking program for Chrome or Firefox, each of which are highlighted and made available through the site, which includes a technology blog, a community support forum, malware encyclopedia, and security bulletins. Malware samples and false positives may be reported.
https://www.adaware.com/
Designed for use on Mac operating system devices, Airo is an antivirus software package offering real-time detection and prevention, preemptively identifying malicious behavior patterns before a threat has had a chance to attack or invade the user’s system. Apart from offering antivirus protection, the software also serves to protect against phishing scams, remote hijacking, and open backdoors. Offering editions for one Mac, three Macs, and five Macs, subscription pricing is used.
https://www.airoav.com/
Offered by Cyber Intell Solution (CIS), Antivirus X-Out is an antivirus program for Mac computers engineered through CIS’s proprietary algorithms that isolate Mac malware, using a software design that combines two integrated malware detection algorithms, and which also has support for Boot Camp users, integrating ClamAV algorithms capable of detecting and isolating Windows OS threats and vulnerabilities within Mac Windows installations. It is available from the Apple App Store.
https://x-out.cyberintellsolution.com/
Available through the Apple App Store or by direct download, Antivirus Zap is an antivirus program that scans and removes malware and other malicious software from macOS devices, promising regular adware and virus database updates, a simple and easy-to-use user interface, and customer support services. Actives processes in memory are scanned during startup, and users may opt for a quick scan, normal scan, browser restore scan, full scan, or directory scan at any time.
https://antiviruszap.com/
Based in Australia, ArtistScope provides software for securing all types of media, providing the option of taking full control over who can view it and how, and was among the first to offer copy protection for images and web pages. Its software includes ArtisBrowser, ArtistScope Portable Media, ArtistScope Site Protection System, CopySafe PDF, CopySafe Video, CopySafe Web, and Secure Image Pro, each of which is highlighted here, along with its protection services.
https://artistscope.com/
Based in Germany, AV-TEST is an independent research institute for IT security which evaluates and rates antivirus and security suite software for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Android operating systems, according to criteria set, which is defined on its site. Every other month, the institute publishes the results of its testing on its site, where products awarded certification are listed. Tested are applications for home users, business users and the Internet of Things.
https://www.av-test.org/en/
Avast antivirus software is a family of cross-platform Internet security applications for macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android platforms, and including free and commercial versions offering computer and browser security, antivirus detection and protection, software firewalls, anti-phishing, anti-spyware, and anti-spam functions, largely available only to Internet-connected devices. Its software packages and bundles are defined and made available for purchase and download from the site.
https://www.avast.com/
Originally known as Anti-Virus Guard, AVG has provided antivirus protection since 1992 and was introduced in the United States in 1998. Offering editions for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, AVG has free and four commercial products for home users, and three options for businesses, all of which are featured here, including side-by-side comparisons, and a list of features. An overview of its premium tech support services and express installation is included.
https://www.avg.com/
Developed and distributed by Avira Operations, a multinational computer security software company based in Germany, Avira offers a free antivirus program for macOS devices, as well as premium editions (Avira Antivirus Pro, Avira Internet Security, and Avira Prime), and three business editions (Avira Antivirus Pro-Business Edition, Avira Antivirus for Endpoint, and Avira Antivirus for Small Business), each of which are highlighted here, along with its support services.
https://www.avira.com/
The Romanian cybersecurity and antivirus software company develops and distributes antivirus software, Internet security software, endpoint security software, and other cybersecurity software products and services, under the Bitdefender label, with products for PCs, Macs, and mobile devices, including home and business editions, which are featured here, along with descriptions, prices, comparisons, and other details. Its reseller program is also defined.
https://www.bitdefender.com/
Formed as Javacool Software in 2002, BrightFort is an American software company focused on developing software for security and privacy solutions, including SpywareBlaster, EULAlyzer, Doc Scrubber, and MRU-Blaster. SpywareBlaster is designed to prevent the installation of potentially unwanted software, while Doc Scrubber analyzes and scrubs hidden and potentially embarrassing data in Word documents, and MRU-Blaster detects and removes stores of hidden information.
http://www.brightfort.com/
BullGuard is a cybersecurity software company with a portfolio of products that includes PC, Mac, tablet, and smartphone protection, and features Internet security, mobile security, identity protection, and a VPN with military-grade encryption, as well as small office security and a cloud-based endpoint service. Offering several products for home users, available separately, the company also offers virus removal services, PC tune-up services, premium installation, and setup.
https://www.bullguard.com/
ClamAV is an open-source (GNU General Public License) antivirus engine used for email scanning, web scanning, and endpoint security, providing a flexible and scalable, multi-threaded daemon, a command-line scanner, and advanced tools for automatic updates of the virus database. A full list of its features is presented, the ClamAV team is introduced, and donors are acknowledged. A user manual, FAQ, and other documentation is available through the site.
https://www.clamav.net/
Developed by Canimaan Software Limited, ClamXAV is a commercial antivirus program offering editions for Mac home users, business users, and students, each of which is compared, side-by-side, with a list of features and pricing. A home-use family pack is also available, for covering up to nine Mac computers. Full descriptions of each of its editions are presented, and a thirty-day free trial version may be downloaded from the site. Its reseller program is discussed.
https://www.clamxav.com/
Developed for Macs, Combo Cleaner is a premium antivirus program that also protects against malware and adware. Although a free antivirus scanner is available, the purchase of the full version is required in order to remove infections. Also available is a free disk cleaner that can be used to eliminate junk files, a free duplicate file finder that can be used on local and external drives, a free big files finder for determining which files are taking up the most space, and other utilities.
https://www.combocleaner.com/
Offering step-by-step documentation software for US government contractor cybersecurity, intended to provide NIST 800-171 Compliance Documentation, meeting the demands of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) minimum security standards, which must be made available for inspectors from the Department of Defense. Its CyberConfirm NIST 800-171 Documentation Software and CyberConfirm Consultant Pro Package are available for purchase.
https://cyberconfirm.com/
Maintained by RealDefense, which owns and markets various products listed on the site, reviewing and comparing them to various competing products, the site offers links to the websites of listed products, including special offers on some of its own products, which include antivirus software and software or services for identity protection, email security and monitoring, password management, virtual private networks, speed optimization, and tech support services.
https://www.cyberdefender.com/
In business since 1999, CyberScrub develops and markets a line of software products for secure data deletion and encryption for a variety of industries ranging from healthcare, finance, legal, real estate, asset disposal, government, and defense, as well as for personal PCs. Its current products include CyberScrub Security, Privacy Suite, KeyChain, CyberCide, and Compliance Suite, each of which is highlighted and offered for sale through its site, which includes reviews.
http://www.cyberscrub.com/
Free and open-source, Ebola is available under the terms of the BSD License. It is an antivirus scanning daemon system designed to improve the performance of scanning systems like AMaVis, Inflex, and other programs that require on-demand scanning from various AV engines, such as Sophos. General information about the software is provided for developers, including development and version information, the required resources, and answers to various questions.
https://pldaniels.com/ebola/
Offering software for PCs and Macs, the antivirus company has products for home and business devices, with three editions for home users, and options for small businesses, mid-sized businesses, and larger enterprises, each of which are highlighted here, with like products compared side-by-side, with features, limitations, and prices. Also featured are its partnership, reseller, MSP, and affiliate programs, support services, and corporate and technology blogs.
https://www.eset.com/us/
Owned and developed by Frisk Software International, now part of Cyren, F-PROT is one of the oldest antivirus products on the market, first released in 1989, as well as the first to use a heuristic engine. Available for Windows and Linux platforms, the company supports a Windows home use and a corporate use edition, as well as its Linux edition. Free trial versions are available, along with data-sheets, license agreements, partnership programs, and contacts.
http://www.f-prot.com/
Known as Data Fellows when it was first released in 1988, F-Secure has been distributed under its current name since 1999. Based in Finland, F-Secure has twenty country offices and a presence in more than a hundred companies, developing and selling antivirus, password management, endpoint security, and other cybersecurity products and services, including its flagship F-Secure antivirus program, with four products for home users, as well as a business edition.
https://www.f-secure.com/
The site provides easy-to-use software to solve your everyday PC problems. This website contains free downloads of the company's software product offerings including free PC diagnostic scans and other services, as well as system requirements. The website also features customer testimonials to let prospective customers know the remarkable benefits of using the company's products and how these products got their computers to their peak performance.
http://www.finallyfast.com
Founded in 2000, GigaTrust provides endpoint security and document in-use protection for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, using a managed software-as-a-service (SaaS) business model. Its flagship program Is GigaCloud, a cloud-based secure endpoint email, and document protection program, on any device and any platform, offering real-time data analytics, reporting, and administrative tools. It, and other products, are highlighted, along with video tutorials and support options.
https://www.gigatrust.com/
Developed by Kaspersky Labs, several antivirus and computer security products are available, for home use, small businesses, medium-sized businesses, and enterprise solutions, including a free edition for home use. The company develops and sells antivirus, Internet security, password management, endpoint security, and other cybersecurity products for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, and services, which may be purchased or subscribed to online, along with upgrades.
https://usa.kaspersky.com/
Specializing in cybersecurity products for home and business users, Malwarebytes protects devices operating Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS operating systems, offering a free program for home users that focuses on malware but is not intended to replace an antivirus program, as well as a premium product that offers antivirus protection, and another plan that protects up to three devices. For businesses, it offers products for Teams, Endpoint Protection, and Endpoint Protection and Response.
https://www.malwarebytes.com/
Developed in 1987 by John McAfee, who resigned from the company in 1994, McAfee-branded cybersecurity software is available for home users, businesses, enterprises, and governments. Utilizing a predictive capability powered by McAfee Global Threat Intelligence, its products are designed to enable home and business users to stay a step ahead of file-less attacks, viruses, malware, and other online threats. Its products are highlighted, along with free trials, and purchase options.
https://www.mcafee.com/
Peter Norton formed Peter Norton Computing to develop various DOS utilities, which did not include antivirus features. The company was acquired by Symantec in 1990 and renamed Peter Norton Consulting Group, which launched Norton AntiVirus in 1991. Its consumer antivirus and data management utilities are still marketed under the Norton name, although part of Symantec. Officially known as Norton by Symantec, Norton offers a suite of antivirus and security applications, available by subscription.
https://us.norton.com/
Licensed under an Apache-style license, OpenSSL is a commercial-grade, full-featured toolkit for the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocols, as well as a general-purpose cryptography library. The open-source software may be downloaded, along with the source code. Other resources include documentation, policy information, a blog, and sponsor acknowledgments. Both community and commercial support are available, and donations are accepted.
https://www.openssl.org/
Developed by Panda Security, a Spanish company that came out with its first antivirus software program in 1990, Panda now offers a range of cybersecurity products for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS, for home users and businesses, offering four editions for home users, and four editions for businesses, each of which are described and compared here, along with its partnership programs, free downloads, and an informational blog. The site is available in several languages.
https://www.pandasecurity.com/
Once rivals, PC Matic and PC Pitstop are now one company, producing software to protect devices and their information from malware, including PC Matic, PC Matic Pro, PC Matic MSP, and PC Magnum, each of which is highlighted here, with its features, screenshots, and online purchase opportunities. The PC Magnum product was derived from PC Pitstop. Free trials of some of its products are available. Other resources include downloadable white papers and brochures, and client reviews.
https://www.pcmatic.com/
Offering protection for Windows, Mac, and Android devices, Scanguard guards against viruses, malware, ransomware, spyware, and adware, also featuring a two-way firewall, a file guard that quarantines malware found in files, and a safe site extension that will block potentially harmful or untrustworthy site URLs, and identity protection services. Its privacy, performance, and protection features are highlighted, along with pricing, a knowledge base, and platform information.
https://www.scanguard.com/
SecurePoint Security Solutions
The German security company offers a set of information technology (IT) security products without backdoors, including firewalls, mobile security products, antivirus software, email archiving, and managed services, with all of these solutions as a service. Its products and services are outlined, along with the company's courses, certification, and training programs, case studies, and its open-source contributions, partnerships, and contacts.
https://www.securepoint.de/en/
Founded in 1985, Sophos is a British security software company with products for endpoint protection, encryption, network security, email security, mobile security, and threat management, offering Mac and PC protection for home users, but with a focus on mid-market businesses, including endpoint protection, network protection, cloud protection, managed threat responses, central management, server, and API protection. A selection of free products are also available.
https://www.sophos.com/
Based in Denmark, SPAMfighter offers products for PCs and Macs, as well as server and cloud software, including SPAMfighter, VIRUSfighter, SPYWAREfighter, SLOW-PCfighter, FULL-DISKfighter, and DRIVERfighter, as well as its business and server solutions: MS Exchange Module, SF Mail Gateway, and VIRUSfighter Server, each of which are described here, with a list of features, prices, and other information. Its partner, reseller, and affiliate programs are covered.
https://www.spamfighter.com/
Created as Spybot Search & Destroy in 1999, Spybot is available in five editions, including a free, donation-ware edition, a Home edition, Professional edition, Corporate edition, and Technician’s edition, each of which are compared side-by-side, with a list of features and prices, along with Spybot Anti-Beacon, a standalone tool designed to block and stop various tracking issues in Windows 10, the Spybot Identity Monitor, and FileAlyzer. A support forum is available.
https://www.safer-networking.org/
Founded in 1995, SSH Communications Security was created to develop and market the Secure Shell Protocol (SSH). While the original version of the SSH software became free software, later versions released by SSH Communications Security became proprietary software. With offices in Helsinki, Singapore, and New York City, the company's solutions, products, and services to managed service providers, operational technology, and federal government security, are discussed.
https://www.ssh.com/
STOPzilla began as a popup blocker in 2001, and has grown to become a more comprehensive anti-malware and antivirus solution, offering three chief products: STOPzilla AntiVirus, STOPzilla AntiMalware, and STOPzilla Optimizer, each developed for use with the Microsoft Windows operating system. An SZ AntiVirus Office Edition is also available for use on up to fifty computers, as well as an identity protection program powered by IdentityForce. An informational blog is included.
https://www.stopzilla.com/
From South Bay Software, SuperCleaner is an all-in-one computer cleaner that identifies the files that are eating up the user’s disk space and slowing computer speed, and it can also clear the user’s Internet history, such as browser history records, as well as erasing the hidden index.dat files that Windows hides on the computer. A full list of features is presented, with screenshots, product highlights, and product support information. Other software is also discussed.
http://www.southbaypc.com/supercleaner/
Featuring daily virus definition updates, TotalAV offers antivirus protection, as well as protection against malware, ransomware, spyware, adware, and phishing, as well as firewall settings. The program checks downloads, installs, and executables for viruses each time the computer accesses them. An additional paid feature is safe browsing through a Virtual Private Network, with encrypted browsing data, and secure WiFi, accessible through all of its applications.
https://www.totalav.com/
Founded in Los Angeles in 1988, the company moved to Japan shortly afterward and is currently headquartered in Tokyo, from where it offers antivirus and other cybersecurity products and services for home and business use, both commercial and free, including products for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS platforms. Purchases may be made from an online store, subscriptions may be renewed, and free products may be downloaded.
https://www.trendmicro.com/
Offering anti-spam email security with built-in antivirus and anti-spyware, the software can help to eliminate junk mail and prevent identity theft. Its products include vqMe for personal anti-spam protection, vqNow for business-class security, and vqSA for enterprise-class email security. Its features, integration, and personalization options are highlighted, and a list of partners is included. Support options include a user support forum, chat, and support requests.
http://www.vanquish.com/
Offering security software products for PCs and Macs, Vipre includes three home security editions (Antivirus Plus, Advanced Security, Ultimate Security Bundle) and a business edition that includes endpoint security, email security, threat protection, and SafeSend, to prevent misaddressed emails for large enterprises. Its products and services are described, along with its managed service providers, resellers, and affiliates programs, informational articles, and videos.
https://www.vipre.com/
Headquartered in Colorado, Webroot has global operations, including an international headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Founded in 1997, the company specializes in computer security software for home and business users, including antivirus protection, WiFi security, endpoint protection, and DNS protection, as well as security awareness training, Carbonite backup services, integrations, and certifications. Case studies and threat intelligence data are included.
https://www.webroot.com/us/en/
The Colorado-based company provides Internet security for consumers and businesses. Its Internet security products include SecureAnywhere Internet Security Complete, for PCs, Macs, tablets, or smartphones, as well as Webroot WiFi Security + Internet Security Complete, for up to five devices, both available by subscription. Descriptions are provided, including a list of features, side-by-side comparisons, prices, system requirements, and customer reviews.
https://www.webroot.com/us/en/home/products/complete
Created by Zone Labs, ZoneAlarm is currently developed and distributed by CheckPoint Software Technologies, and designed to protect against viruses, malware, ransomware, and identity theft, offering both home and business software products. For home users, the company offers Free Antivirus, Pro Antivirus + Firewall, and Extreme Security, the first two for Windows only, the latter for Windows, Android, and iOS. System requirements and a list of features are included.
https://www.zonealarm.com/
