Is your computer really protected against all threats?

Avast One protects you against all web threats, and it goes much further than viruses and spyware in 2023. Ransomware, phishing, identity theft or domain hijacking are among the techniques used by cybercriminals, and a anti-virus keeps you safe from attacks.

Today, we still talk about an antivirus to describe the basic protection of security software. In truth, viruses are only a small part of malware today. Even beyond malware itself, there is a wide variety of techniques used by cybercriminals whose aim is increasingly to monetize personal data or mobilize resources to increase their capacity to produce cryptocurrencies, among others.

We can even go beyond cybercrime: do you really want to see your browsing history used to deliver targeted advertising? This is certainly a legal use, but it can represent a threat to your privacy. To comprehensively protect you against all these threats, a complete suite like Avast One can give you the peace of mind you need on a daily basis. It is also listed among the best free antiviruses.

Viruses, Spyware and Trojans

Malware comes in many forms, and the most well-known ones are still circulating. Viruses, Trojans, spyware or other potentially unwanted software are all covered by the defense shields of a suite like Avast One. Malware can commit its misdeeds through several vectors, obviously starting with infected files. The Avast File Agent automatically scans those that are executed or modified. Following this, it blocks or deletes them if they are malicious, or simply unwanted like fake antivirus or optimization software. The agent also detects rootkits and attempts to exploit system security vulnerabilities.

Threats can also come from the Internet. On the Web, sites can be infected, whether or not they are protected by the HTTPS protocol. Avast One monitors web traffic, including web traffic, and prevents browsers from running scripts.

Finally, even if emails are no longer as popular as they used to be, they are still an important vector of infection today. Avast One again has a shield intended to monitor POP and SMTP traffic, and to analyze attachments.

Ransomware and theft of sensitive data

Personal data is the main issue for cybercriminals today, and for good reason. They are abundant, rich in information and very easy to obtain. It is not uncommon to have a collection of personal photos, documents such as scans of identity documents, account statements, bank details or contracts on your PC or Mac. Worse: the health crisis created a situation of massive recourse to teleworking where the computers used could very well be personal devices, thus creating a gateway to even more confidential documents.

In recent years, a type of malware has developed to specifically attack personal data: ransomware, or ransomware. The latter look for files in user folders (images, documents, etc.) and apply an encryption algorithm to them which makes them unusable, unless you pay a ransom to have the key. Avast One has built-in ransomware protection that specifically monitors these folders as well as specific file types. When Ransomware Shield detects abnormal activity of accessing these folders by an illegitimate application, it automatically blocks the behavior.

The sensitive data agent completes this monitoring by monitoring access to certain types of files: statements, CVs, identity documents, etc. It is possible to launch a search on these documents or to protect specific files.

Phishing and domain hijacking

We often have the image of cybercriminals developing hyper-sophisticated malware that enters servers, bypassing all defenses, like in a spy movie. However, one of the most widely used techniques for stealing personal data is much simpler: just send an email or a link to a website that looks exactly or almost like your bank’s website, favorite store or streaming service, and where you enter your credentials without knowing that you are being scammed. This is called phishing, and despite our vigilance, it is easy to bite.

Avast One identifies these malicious sites and prevents you from accessing them. When shopping online, you can also make sure you are on the right site. Even more pernicious, domain hijacking can send you to a fraudulent site without you knowing it. By hacking and changing your DNS settings, the operation is undetectable to the user. Avast One protects browsers that use the DNS over HTTPS protocol and can be hijacked.

Network attacks

Almost all devices are now permanently connected to the Internet, which brings obvious benefits, but also increases the risk of network intrusion from malicious applications. To regulate network traffic efficiently and intelligently, it is necessary to supplement your system’s default firewall with a more efficient tool that offers extended possibilities. This is what Avast One offers.

In this way, depending on the network your computer is connected to, you can determine if it is trusted or not. This is especially important when you’re using a public Wi-Fi network where you’re not sure how secure it is. So you can allow printers and other PCs on this network to connect to your computer or not.

Avast Firewall also displays information about all processes that connect to the network with the option to block or allow them individually. In addition, it allows you to view the history of operations performed.

Beyond malware, threats to your privacy

While malware can cause damage, it is not the only nuisance that can be encountered when using the Internet. As mentioned above, personal data is a gold mine for companies, and many sites, even legitimate ones, can collect it and use it for targeting purposes of which the user is not necessarily aware. Your browsing history, passwords stored in your web browser, your geographic location or your IP address are all pieces of information that can be easy to view to identify you.

Avast One integrates several tools to allow you to browse with peace of mind, starting with a VPN which reinforces the security of your Internet connection, particularly on public Wi-Fi networks by hiding your IP address. VPN technology can also support your web browser’s private mode to block tracking via cookies. Passwords stored in the browser can be monitored to block theft and changes. Finally, data breach monitoring allows you to monitor your credentials to find out if they have been leaked.

What alternatives to Avast One?