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病毒(Viruses)和恶意软件(Malware)有多危险？
当您必须决定是否要安装额外的安全措施来保护自己免受病毒和恶意软件的侵害时，了解您面临的风险至关重要。如果您被各种恶意软件(various kinds of malware)中的一种感染，您可能会遇到严重的麻烦。
主要风险是丢失您的数据、您的数据被盗、您的身份被盗，也许最糟糕的是，您的账户中的钱被盗。
病毒和其他恶意软件有很多技巧可以获取您的数据或金钱。目前，勒索软件可能是最危险和最具破坏性的。该恶意软件会在后台加密您的数据，然后要求赎金才能释放它。
广告软件(Adware)会通过弹出广告轰炸您以赚钱。间谍软件(Spyware)监视您，寻找用于身份盗窃的个人信息或密码。特洛伊木马(Trojans)会依附于看似无辜的程序。PUP(PUPs)或可能不需要的程序(Programs)捆绑到其他软件安装程序中。这只是冰山一角。恶意软件可以利用许多漏洞，但这并不意味着您需要安全软件来保护自己免受攻击！
常识是一款出色的防病毒软件
一个简单的事实是，如果您负责任地使用您的计算机，那么您是否会遇到病毒或其他类型的恶意软件是值得怀疑的。坚持(Stick)使用信誉良好的软件，检查电子邮件附件和电子邮件发件人的真实性，并避免使用已插入您不认识的计算机的闪存驱动器或硬盘驱动器。
您还可以使用VirusTotal之类的网站手动检查附件和其他文件中是否存在恶意软件，这样您就可以显示来自多个防病毒引擎的结果。
您还可以使用VirtualBox等虚拟机程序来测试软件并确保它在您计算机的整个操作系统上使用之前是安全的。
此外，请务必对您最重要的数据进行云备份，这样如果病毒确实破坏了您的数据，您仍然可以在无法触及的位置保存一份副本。云(Cloud)存储服务通常有一个滚动窗口，您可以在其中将已从您的计算机上传的任何损坏的文件恢复到其原始状态。
Microsoft Defender(Microsoft Defender Is)（大部分）足够好(Good Enough)
如果您使用的是Microsoft Windows，则Microsoft Defender已在您首次启动Windows时启动并运行。用户有一种感觉，即使用操作系统附带的“商店品牌”防病毒软件意味着您没有得到很好的保护。事实上，Windows Defender一直位居检测和销毁恶意软件的顶级商业防病毒软件包之列。称其为优秀的防病毒程序并不夸张，而忽略它可能有点误导。
Defender 使用现代防病毒软件的最佳实践。它会在可用时立即接收病毒定义更新，提供实时保护，并使用启发式病毒检测。启发式检测允许防病毒程序包通过其行为来猜测某物是否是病毒，这意味着即使没有病毒定义，它也可以阻止病毒。
像任何软件一样，Defender并不完美。例如，它过度依赖在线。因此，如果您花费大量时间离线并在此期间从事危险行为，那么另一个软件包可能更适合您。但是，就实际性能而言，它与付费套餐一样高，而用户却没有任何成本。它不是最好的杀毒软件，但如果考虑到它的价格，Defender就很难被击败！
Windows 包括防火墙
计算机安全的一个重要部分是控制哪些信息从您的计算机流向互联网并返回。您可能会通过您的互联网或网络连接被某些恶意软件（例如蠕虫）感染，而无需您（用户）的任何帮助。
如果您已经感染了恶意软件，您也不希望它回电并上传从您那里窃取的信息。付费防病毒软件可能会宣传它们包含防火墙，但您应该知道Windows已经内置了软件防火墙和防病毒软件。不仅如此，您的网络路由器很有可能拥有自己的防火墙。因此，不要被防火墙作为一项功能所左右。
Windows 防火墙(Windows Firewall)是非常基本的，即使它确实完成了工作。您通过付费软件获得的防火墙可能会为您提供有价值的功能。如果您只需要防火墙的核心功能，那么您已经涵盖了。
Web浏览器提供免费的密码管理器(Browsers Offer Free Password Managers)
防病毒(Antivirus)软件开发商包括互联网安全功能，以吸引更多用户切换到他们的产品。这可能包括一个密码管理器，并且在您的安全套件中获得一个免费的密码管理器似乎是一个好主意，因为这似乎比为LastPass之类的服务支付月费更好。
Google Chrome和Mozilla Firefox等流行的互联网浏览器中内置了相当出色的密码管理器。他们将完全免费为您生成和存储强密码。当您的其中一个密码被黑客入侵时，您甚至会收到警告。
macOS 没有严重的病毒问题(Virus Problem)（目前）
从历史上看，由于“默默无闻的安全性”， MacBooks和 i Macs等(Macs)Apple Mac计算机不需要防病毒软件。这只是一种奇特的说法，即世界上只有一小部分计算机是Mac(Macs)，以至于病毒创建者认为为他们创造任何东西都不值得。
(Mac)只下载受信任的Mac软件或从官方Mac App Store 下载软件的(Mac App)Mac用户可能无需担心，但Mac病毒和其他Mac恶意软件就在那里。如果您对所面临的确切威胁感到好奇，MacWorld会维护一份Mac 恶意软件列表。(Mac malware list)
Apple 最近从Apple M1(Apple M1)开始转向他们的CPU(CPUs) ，显着提高了平台的安全性。尽管如此，至少已经有一个恶意软件包以Silver Sparrow的形式攻击 M1 系统。最终，大多数用户在Mac(Mac)上不需要防病毒软件，但这在很大程度上取决于您的使用模式。如果您想高枕无忧，请查看适用于 Mac 的最佳防病毒选项(The Best Antivirus Options for Mac)。
防病毒软件会影响性能(Antivirus Software Can Kill Performance)
Microsoft Defender的优势在于被设计为Windows 10和 11 的集成部分。不幸的是，其他防病毒选项并非如此。任何使用过主要防病毒品牌的人都曾在某些时候遇到过性能问题。
这些程序不仅消耗CPU和RAM资源，而且它们的扫描还会干扰合法应用程序的运行，减慢它们的速度或导致崩溃。
这因应用程序和防病毒软件而异。值得一读您正在考虑的任何付费防病毒软件对性能的影响，看看用户如何评价它对性能的影响。专业审阅者还可以运行基准测试来确定特定防病毒软件对计算机的性能影响有多大。
如果您依赖特定程序或者是游戏玩家，您应该检查给定的防病毒软件是否会与您最喜欢的游戏或关键任务应用程序发生冲突或干扰。
付费防病毒软件(Paid Antivirus Software)可能很昂贵
防病毒软件作为一次性应用程序出售的情况越来越少。相反，您可能需要支付月费。即使您为软件支付一次费用，您也可能需要支付年费或继续接收病毒定义更新。
根据您的风险状况，您是否可以使用Defender等内置防病毒软件，以及您需要多少付费选项提供的额外功能，运行成本可能不合理。
免费杀毒软件不是免费的
说到成本，那里有许多免费的防病毒程序。他们不花费你任何货币，但显然，他们需要以某种方式赚钱。如果您不直接付款，这意味着出售您的信息、将不需要的程序捆绑到他们的安装程序中，或者向您展示广告。
如果免费版本也有升级的付费版本，那么免费版本可能删除了太多功能，无法提供良好的病毒防护。
第三方杀毒软件(Antivirus Software)可能会臃肿
安装防病毒套件会给您的计算机增加大量的膨胀。套件中可能有许多不同的组件，每个组件都在争夺您的注意力。也可能会自动安装插件，将它们自己添加到您的浏览器或办公软件中以对抗宏病毒。一个好的防病毒保护套件可以让您选择安装哪些组件以及推迟安装哪些组件，但即使这样也可能是一件令人困惑的苦差事！
在某些情况下， VPN可能(Might Be)更重要(Important)
大多数防病毒程序不提供的一项功能是VPN或虚拟专用网络(Virtual Private Network)。VPN(VPNs)在互联网上创建私人“隧道”，对同一网络上的任何人隐藏您的互联网活动。这包括您的LAN（局域网(Local Area Network)）和您的ISP（互联网服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)）上的其他用户。
(VPNs)如果您曾经在公共Wi-Fi(Wi-Fi)网络上使用计算机，VPN至关重要。无论是在工作场所、咖啡店还是酒店，其他用户都可以从您的网络数据中窃取各种信息，而防病毒程序无法保护您免受这些信息的侵害。
值得考虑(Antivirus Software Worth Considering)的第三方杀毒软件
如果您决定要在您的计算机上安装第三方防病毒保护，那么最好坚持使用主流品牌并拥有已知的历史。特别是因为有这么多假的防病毒程序，您可能会在狡猾的网站或社交媒体上看到这些假冒的防病毒程序广告。他们会告诉你你的计算机系统被感染了，向你收取“修复”它的费用，如果你幸运的话，你只会损失一点钱。主流(Mainstream)网络安全软件品牌和软件包括：
- 诺顿
- 麦咖啡
- 平均
- 恶意软件字节
- 卡巴斯基
- 比特卫士
- Avira
假设(Suppose)您要评估不同防病毒选项的相对优点或确认防病毒程序是合法的。在这种情况下，一个很好的资源是AV-Test，它专门审查和测试这个软件。您还可以查看我们的最佳病毒和恶意软件扫描程序(Best Virus & Malware Scanner)以获得一些很好的建议。
智能手机的防病毒软件(Antivirus)怎么样？
这些天你可能更多地使用你的智能手机或平板电脑而不是你的台式电脑，所以你可能想知道你是否需要防病毒软件。如果您是Android智能手机用户并使用来自(Android)Google Play商店以外的其他来源的软件，您可能需要查看信誉良好的Android 防病毒(Android Antivirus)应用程序。
查看如何从 Android 手机中删除恶意软件(How to Remove Malware From an Android Phone)和最佳 Android 防病毒和安全应用程序(Best Android Antivirus and Security Apps)。对于 iOS 用户，防病毒程序不是一个选项，但如果你没有越狱你的 iPhone 或 iPad，这不是问题。
Do You Really Need Antivirus Software on Your Windows or Mac Computer?
Do you still need third-party antivirus software on modern systems? There are tradeoffs, so make sure you know what you’re getting into before clicking that downlоad button.
How Dangerous Are Viruses and Malware?
When you have to decide if you’re going to install extra security to protect yourself from viruses and malware, it’s essential to know what risks you’re facing. If you get infected by one of the various kinds of malware, you could be in serious trouble.
The main risks are losing your data, having your data stolen, having your identity stolen, and perhaps worst of all, having money stolen from your accounts.
Viruses and other malware have plenty of tricks to get your data or money. At present, ransomware is probably the most dangerous and destructive. This malware encrypts your data in the background and then demands a ransom to release it.
Adware bombards you with advertising pop-ups in an attempt to make money. Spyware watches you, looking for personal information or passwords for identity theft. Trojans attach themselves to otherwise innocent-looking programs. PUPs or Potentially Unwanted Programs are bundled into other software installers. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are numerous vulnerabilities that malware can exploit, but that doesn’t mean you need security software to protect yourself from it!
Common Sense Is a Great Antivirus
The simple fact is that if you use your computer responsibly, it’s doubtful that you’ll ever encounter a virus or another type of malware. Stick to using software from reputable sources, examine email attachments and email senders for authenticity, and refrain from using flash drives or hard drives that have been plugged into computers you don’t know.
You can also manually check attachments and other files for the presence of malware by using a site like VirusTotal, which gives you the benefit of showing the results from multiple antivirus engines.
You can also use a virtual machine program such as VirtualBox to test out software and ensure it’s safe before using it on your computer’s entire operating system.
Also, be sure to have cloud backups of your most essential data so that if a virus does destroy your data, you still have a copy in a location it can’t be touched. Cloud storage services usually have a rolling window where you can restore any corrupted files that have been uploaded from your computer back to their original state.
Microsoft Defender Is (Mostly) Good Enough
If you’re using Microsoft Windows, then Microsoft Defender is already up and running from when you first boot up Windows. There’s a sense among users that using the “store brand” antivirus that comes with your operating system means you aren’t that well protected. The truth is that Windows Defender consistently ranks among the top commercial antivirus packages to detect and destroy malware. It’s no stretch to call it a good antivirus program, and dismissing it is perhaps a little misguided.
Defender uses the best practices of modern antivirus software. It receives virus definition updates as soon as they are available, offers real-time protection, and uses heuristic virus detection. Heuristic detection allows an antivirus package to guess whether something is a virus by its behavior, which means it can stop viruses even without a virus definition.
Like any software, Defender isn’t perfect. For example, it has a disproportionate dependence on being online. So if you spend significant amounts of time offline and engage in risky behavior while doing so, another software package might be better for you. However, in terms of actual performance, it’s right up there with paid packages while costing the user nothing. It’s not the best antivirus software, but when you factor in its price, Defender is hard to beat!
Windows Includes a Firewall
An essential part of computer security is controlling what information flows from your computer to the internet and back. You can be infected by certain malware (such as worms) through your internet or network connection without any help from you, the user.
If you’re already infected with malware, you also don’t want it calling back home and uploading the information it’s stolen from you. Paid antivirus software might advertise that they include a firewall, but you should know that Windows already has a software firewall built-in along with an antivirus. Not only that, but there’s a good chance that your network router has a firewall of its own. So don’t be swayed by the offer of a firewall as a feature.
Windows Firewall is quite basic, even if it does get the job done. The firewalls you get with paid software might offer valuable features to you. If you only need the core features of a firewall, you’re already covered.
Web Browsers Offer Free Password Managers
Antivirus software developers include internet security features to get more users to switch to their products. This may consist of a password manager, and it might seem like a good idea to get a free password manager with your security suite since that seems like a better deal than paying a monthly fee for a service like LastPass.
There are rather excellent password managers built into popular internet browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. They’ll generate and store strong passwords for you completely free of charge. You’ll even get a warning when one of your passwords is featured in a hacker breach.
macOS Doesn’t Have a Serious Virus Problem (For Now)
Historically, Apple Mac computers like MacBooks and iMacs haven’t needed antivirus software thanks to “security through obscurity.” That’s just a fancy way of saying that such a small percentage of computers out in the world are Macs that virus creators don’t think it’s worth the effort to create anything for them.
Mac users who only download trusted Mac software or software from the official Mac App store probably have nothing to worry about, but Mac viruses and other Mac malware are out there. MacWorld maintains a Mac malware list if you’re curious about the exact threats you’re facing.
Apple’s recent shift to their CPUs, starting with the Apple M1, has significantly increased the platform’s security. Still, there’s already at least one malware package that attacks M1 systems in the form of Silver Sparrow. Ultimately, most users don’t need antivirus on Mac, but that strongly depends on your usage patterns. If you want some peace of mind, check out The Best Antivirus Options for Mac.
Antivirus Software Can Kill Performance
Microsoft Defender has the advantage of being designed as an integrated part of Windows 10 and 11. Unfortunately, that’s not true for other antivirus options. Anyone who has used the major antivirus brands has experienced performance problems at some point.
These programs not only consume CPU and RAM resources, but their scanning can also interfere with the operation of legitimate applications, slowing them down or causing crashes.
This varies from application to application and from antivirus to antivirus. It’s worth reading up on the performance impact of any paid antivirus software you’re considering to see what users say about its effect on performance. Professional reviewers may also run benchmarks to determine how much performance impact a particular antivirus has on a computer.
If you rely on specific programs or are a gamer, you should check whether a given antivirus is known for conflicting or interfering with your favorite games or mission-critical applications.
Paid Antivirus Software Can Be Costly
It’s becoming rare for antivirus software to be sold as a once-off application. Instead, you’re likely to pay a monthly fee. Even if you pay once for the software, you may have to pay an annual fee or keep receiving virus definition updates.
Depending on your risk profile, whether you have access to built-in antivirus like Defender, and how much you need the extra features some paid options provide, the running costs may be unreasonable.
Free Antivirus Isn’t Free
Speaking of costs, there are many free antivirus programs out there. They don’t cost you any currency, but obviously, they need to make money somehow. If you’re not paying directly, that means selling your information, bundling unwanted programs into their installer, or showing you advertisements.
If a free version also has an upgraded paid version, then the free version may have too many features removed to offer good virus protection.
Third-party Antivirus Software Can Be Bloated
Installing antivirus suites can add a ton of bloat to your computer. There may be many different components to the suite, each vying for your attention. There may also be automatically installed plugins that add themselves to your browser or to office software to fight macro viruses. A good antivirus protection suite will let you choose which components to install and which to defer, but even that can be a confusing chore!
VPNs Might Be More Important in Some Cases
One feature that most antivirus programs don’t offer is a VPN or Virtual Private Network. VPNs create private “tunnels” over the internet, hiding your internet activity from anyone on the same network. That includes other users on your LAN (Local Area Network) and your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
VPNs are crucial if you ever use your computer on a public Wi-Fi network. Whether that’s at work, at a coffee shop, or in a hotel, other users can steal all sorts of information from your network data, and that’s something an antivirus program won’t protect you from.
Third-party Antivirus Software Worth Considering
If you decide that you want to install third-party antivirus protection on your computer, then it’s a good idea to stick with mainstream brands and have a known history. Especially since there are so many fake antivirus programs, you may see these phony antivirus programs advertised on dodgy websites or social media. They’ll tell you that your computer system is infected, charge you money to “fix” it, and if you’re lucky, you’ll only lose a bit of money. Mainstream cybersecurity software brands and software include:
- Norton
- Mcafee
- AVG
- Malwarebytes
- Kaspersky
- BitDefender
- Avira
Suppose you want to evaluate the relative merits of the different antivirus options or confirm that an antivirus program is legit. In that case, a great resource is AV-Test, which specializes in reviewing and testing this software. You can also check out our Best Virus & Malware Scanner for some great suggestions.
What About Antivirus for Your Smartphone?
You probably use your smartphone or tablet more than your desktop computer these days, so you’ve likely wondered if you need antivirus for that. If you’re an Android smartphone user and use software from sources other than the Google Play store, you may want to look into a reputable Android Antivirus app.
Check out How to Remove Malware From an Android Phone and Best Android Antivirus and Security Apps. For iOS users, antivirus programs aren’t an option, but if you haven’t jailbroken your iPhone or iPad, it’s a non-issue.
