Viruses aren’t the only things antivirus programs protect against. There are also worms, which attack your device and try to spread across networks, and trojans, which appear to be safe programs but are actually anything but — they lurk on your device and try to steal your accounts and financial information.
You often find viruses, worms, and trojans hidden in seemingly legitimate software, or if you download pirated content, you also risk accidentally executing malware on your computer.
Ransomware is also a serious threat to consumers and businesses today. Modern antivirus programs can often stop it before it encrypts your computer and demands a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key.
Spyware, which comes in the form of executable software and mobile apps, can seriously compromise your privacy. Spyware will monitor your activities and collect your data, and in the case of tracking software, it can also record your phone calls, text messages, social media activity, and GPS location.
Antivirus apps and programs also protect against adware, which can mine your web history and flood you with annoying and potentially dangerous ads or notifications. Also known as nuisanceware, while usually harmless, nuisanceware can slow down your device, drain your battery, and make it nearly impossible to browse the internet normally.
It is important to remember that many variants of malware today are not limited to attacks on personal computers but can also be found in seemingly harmless mobile applications.
