Antivirus software has been a mainstay in online security for decades and is still widely used by individuals and businesses alike. However, the truth is that antivirus is no longer an adequate solution for businesses. It’s outdated, doesn’t work properly, and is incapable of stopping modern threats. In this blog post, we’ll dive into why antivirus doesn’t work, why it’s no longer adequate for businesses, and what better solutions are available.
What is antivirus?
Antivirus software, as the name suggests, is a program used to protect a computer system from malware, worms, viruses, spyware, and other malicious threats. It works by scanning files, programs, and email attachments, and blocking anything it deems suspicious. While antivirus used to be the go-to solution for online security, it’s no longer effective against modern threats.
Why doesn’t antivirus work?
The biggest flaw of antivirus software is that it relies on signature-based detection. This means that it scans files for known viruses and malware based on their signature or code. However, as cybercriminals become more sophisticated, they use techniques like polymorphism, encryption, and obfuscation to create malware that is undetectable by signature-based antivirus. In other words, antivirus can only catch what it knows, and it’s always playing catch-up.
Why isn’t antivirus adequate for businesses?
Businesses require a higher level of security than individual users. They store sensitive data, handle financial transactions and are a primary target of cybercriminals. Antivirus doesn’t provide adequate protection for businesses in critical situations. It also provides minimal visibility into the security status of an organization and the scale of attack vectors.
Why is antivirus outdated?
Antivirus technology is more than 30 years old and has not kept up with modern attacks. With the prevalence of new and complex threats such as malware-less attacks, Ransomware, and file-less attacks, antivirus is not adapted to suit the current landscape of hacking. Antivirus software isn’t equipped to handle modern security threats that are growing at an alarming rate.
What are the better solutions?
Better security solutions are emerging to replace antivirus. One such solution is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) which uses algorithms to predict and detect new malware threats, identify vulnerabilities in applications, and prioritize remediation. The use of AI enables an organization to stay ahead of attacks, providing comprehensive visibility and control.
Why AI has made antivirus obsolete?
AI is an advanced approach to cybersecurity that can detect unknown threats with ease, eliminate false positives, and quantify risk in real-time. It provides a comprehensive endpoint detection and response, 24/7 monitoring and analysis, and automated incident response capabilities. AI can remotely detect and remediate vulnerabilities, threats, or other security issues. This advanced solution eliminates the need for signature updates and other manual security processes that antivirus requires.
Human monitoring has no replacement.
Despite the advanced technology, human intervention is still a crucial element of online security. Qualified cybersecurity analysts are experts in detecting the potential threats that can occur that go unnoticed by AI. Human intervention complements AI, quickly identifies and isolates threats, and takes appropriate actions to safeguard against them.
Business owners must stay informed of the security trends that are happening globally, and have a good understanding of the threatscape targeting their organizations. Antivirus is no longer effective in protecting corporations’ data, as cybercriminals are rapidly enhancing their capabilities. AI technology enables companies to stay ahead of threats, providing comprehensive visibility and control. By effectively complementing AI with human intervention, companies can better understand what’s happening in their environment while reducing risk. The right protection is essential to keep businesses thriving, and companies must be proactive in finding effective, tailored solutions that meet their individual cybersecurity requirements.