Despite the fact that we have been hearing about computer viruses for decades, infection of personal devices remains a real and constant problem that can affect anyone at any time and at any moment. That’s why David Amrani, infrastructure protection specialist at Telefónica, says that having an antivirus is «a strong recommendation, even for people who use their devices responsibly and carefully». Despite the security built into today’s operating systems, they still do not cover «all the fronts that need to be protected,» he said.

Specifically, antivirus companies specialize in blocking all the doors through which viruses can enter. Because if it is true that no antivirus software can «guarantee absolute security», Amrani pointed out, then «they offer more than superior protection». «A computer without antivirus software is only a matter of time before it becomes infected with a virus, with consequences ranging from theft or deletion of information to damage to the device or misuse of the device,» he warned. such as online crime or cryptocurrency mining. 

For all of the above, cybersecurity experts recommend looking at three basic keys when choosing between one antivirus or another:

PC capacity. «The best antivirus software is the one that consumes most of the computer’s resources,» says Amrani. Even so, we must know the RAM memory, processor and storage capacity of the device to know what kind of antivirus software is worth installing without affecting the device’s performance.

What you use the device for. Most computer viruses are found on the Internet, in the files we download and the websites we visit. Therefore, the expert points out that «the more you use the Internet, the better antivirus software you should have». 

Main vulnerabilities. Not all computer threats work in the same way or gain access to computers through the same place. Therefore, we must take into account the most sensitive aspects that we want to protect as users. «For example, if you want to avoid being tracked, you should hire an antivirus with a good firewall and a Trojan service that prevents suspicious connections. On the other hand, if you have very important files that should not be deleted in any way, apart from creating backup copies, you should hire an antivirus that is particularly good at detecting viruses,» said Amrani.