If you have been using a computer for quite a bit of time then you definitely know about antivirus software.
Back in the days, everyone wanted to protect their computer systems from all types of viruses with the help of antivirus software. We used to buy antivirus software on CDs and DVDs.
Nowadays, things have changed a lot. You don’t have to buy a disk anymore as most of the antivirus programs are available as a download from their official websites.
All you have to do is head over to the official website of your favorite antivirus and download the software for either a fee or free, depending on the brand you choose.
What is Antivirus?
Antivirus is a program that is specifically designed to detect and remove all types of malicious software from your system. These malicious programs include, but not limited to Trojans, worms, virus, spyware, adware, Ransomware, and more.
If you are wondering how you can keep yourself and your system protected from all threats then antivirus is the answer.
Why use an antivirus?
Well, back in the days, getting your system infected wasn’t as easy as it is today. Internet wasn’t as widely spread, so mostly you used to get malware from disks or another storage medium.
However, in today’s technologically advanced world where the internet is being used on almost every device out there, it’s very easy to download certain files or programs that come riddled with malicious software. It’s very easy to get your PC infected in the modern world as anything you download from the internet could be a potential threat.
This is the reason you need an antivirus on your system. These programs are designed to detect any potential threats and warn you before you download or run infected files.
Who needs antivirus?
Everybody!
Yes, you read that right, everybody who uses the internet on a daily basis needs antivirus for their system. But, if you are an entertainment freak who likes to download the latest movies and TV shows all the time then you definitely need an antivirus.
There are countless mobile apps and programs out there that offer movies and TV shows for your ease. Most of these apps offer downloads for your favorite blockbuster movies and the latest seasons of your favorite TV shows.
But, that also comes with a price. You never know which of these apps are legit and which ones are designed to infect your systems. That is a risk that you must take if you want to download the latest TV show episodes or the latest movies.
As you can see there are apps like Popcorn Time, Mobdro and Showbox that easily download and stream movies on your laptops and mobile phones, but you don’t know whether these apps are safe or not.
First of all, there’s always the privacy issue because you never know who is watching or tracking your online activities. Such types of issues can be mitigated with simple VPN software. However, if there is malicious software injected into these apps then a VPN is definitely not going to do a thing about it.
In order to combat malicious software, you need a strong antivirus that can protect you from all the current threats.
There are countless antivirus software out there, but not all are created equally. Some antivirus programs have out-dated databases which means that they have no idea about the latest threats, so the latest virus can just sit on your system going undetected because of the antivirus program. So, you need a program that has the latest database which includes all the current threats and malware information.
Are entertainment apps bad?
No, certainly not.
Of course, there are risks associated with downloading anything on the web, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that entertainment apps are bad or harmful. There are many apps and software out there that are completely legit and don’t harm your systems ever.
The chaos comes when malicious people, hackers, etc who take these apps, tweak their codes and inject viruses into them. Afterward, they upload these compromised apps on fake domains where people download the compromised versions of the apps.
These versions infect your PCs and wreak havoc on your personal data. You could lose your data through ransomware, experience slowdowns due to adware/spyware, or just get a malware that sends your personal and sensitive information back to its developers, either way, you’re at risk.
How to make sure you don’t get infected when downloading movies/TV shows?
It’s fairly simple. All you have to do is invest in a strong antivirus. You don’t even have to pay for an antivirus if you don’t want to, but paid versions are certainly better and offer a higher level of protection against threats.
If you are downloading apps like Showbox then make sure that you only download these from reputable sources. If a source looks shady then it’s better to avoid it and look for the app elsewhere.
Ask on Reddit, or forums to see if other users are willing to share legit APKs or app versions with you. But, also make sure that you don’t end up downloading a fake app from some hacker pretending to help.
As long as you have the latest antivirus installed on your PC, Laptop, and/or mobile phone then you are pretty much good to go. These antivirus programs will notify you beforehand if an app you’re installing is infected or not.
In the end
Staying safe is all about changing your habits. You should start being more cautious and less trusting of the World Wide Web.
Don’t download apps or software from unknown sources without verifying the authenticity of the source. Don’t trust every website out there, and ultimately, don’t use any program or app without having an antivirus installed on your PC or mobile phone.
Let us know which antivirus or anti-malware software you use and how effective these programs are. Comment below.
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