Anyone who buys a new computer often receives offers for additional, usually paid, virus protection programs. Some of the advertising is already pre-installed, along with a stripped-down free version. SRF digital editor Guido Berger says in an interview with the consumer magazine “Espresso” that these additional programs are no longer needed these days.
Why do I no longer need an additional, paid antivirus program for my computer?
Maybe that was the case in the past. But with a modern operating system, many security tools such as virus protection are already built in. So that’s what’s included. This has to do with the fact that computer security is now generally more of a focus and is already seen as the responsibility of the operating system. So it’s no longer something you have to retrofit yourself. Paid programs have additional functions that may be useful. You can decide individually whether you want that or not.
By additional functions do you mean that an antivirus program can, for example, delete unnecessary files?
Yes. They’re features that actually have more to do with maintenance and cleanup than with computer security. Perhaps individual features of additional software can protect the computer a little more against specific threats than the pre-installed virus protection. But the short answer really remains that you don’t necessarily need it because protection is most likely already installed on the device. I would rather check whether this protection is switched on or not.
What can I specifically do to protect my computer from hacker attacks, viruses and malware?
The following is my sermon, which I always give on this occasion.
- Always keep the operating system and programs such as the Internet browser or email program up to date. In this way, known security gaps are closed.
- Use strong and different passwords, preferably with a password manager.
- Make backups regularly and also test whether the backup works.
- A healthy mistrust. Don’t click on any nonsense.
These tips apply to everyone. No matter what smartphone, computer model or operating system someone has. Following these tips will make you safer than spending a bunch of money on an expensive antivirus program.