It spread so quickly that most cybersecurity experts consider it the first large-scale computer virus outbreak in history. However, the history of modern viruses begins with a program called Elk Cloner, which started infecting Apple II systems in 1982.ĭisseminated via infected floppy disks, the virus itself was harmless, but it spread to all disks attached to a system. What is a computer virus?Ī computer virus is a type of malicious software with particular characteristics:Įarly viruses occurred on pre-personal computer platforms in the 1970s. Attackers’ goals are often financial, to ultimately steal money or information that can be valuable to others. Such attacks might occur via your hardware (like a backdoor) or through your software (like an exploit). Businesses often employ a number of different strategies to guard against threats, a foundational one of which is known as endpoint protection.Ĭybersecurity attacks often aim to do things like hold your computer hostage, steal system resources (as in a botnet), record your passwords and usernames, and a whole host of other bad things. For businesses and organizations, cybersecurity is a broad and important field as cybersecurity attacks continue to make headlines. For home users, these strategies include both antivirus and anti-malware protection, plus other means to stay safe online like browser protection or a VPN for online privacy. Both of these terms fall under the broader term “ cybersecurity.” What is cybersecurity?Ĭybersecurity, or computer security, is a catchall term for any strategy for protecting one’s system from malicious attacks. Both antivirus and anti-malware typically detect and block threats, and remove any threats that make it on to a device. “Anti-malware” is intended to be a broader description than “antivirus,” but antivirus has broadened in common usage to describe the same type of software. The term antivirus refers to computer viruses that were early online threats, and anti-malware refers to the term “malware,” which is an umbrella term for any kind of malicious software (including viruses). Today, the terms antivirus and anti-malware are often used interchangeably to refer to cybersecurity software that blocks viruses and other types of malware from computers and mobile devices. What’s the difference between antivirus and anti-malware? Today, cybersecurity companies like Malwarebytes employ several different methods to detect, block, or remove malware from a device. Early antivirus programs would compare software file signatures against a list of known viruses to see if they matched, and if so, block them. Originally, it was created to protect against computer viruses, but now it’s more of a general term to describe software that uses a combination of advanced technologies to protect against a variety of threats, including ransomware, spyware, and even never-before-seen zero day attacks. Historical Detection Statistics: Ever wanted to go back in time and see what you avoided? Now you can! Learn more about the past detections and see what we’ve protected you from.Antivirus is software that is designed to detect, protect against, and remove malware on a computer or mobile device.Experience a consistent and clean web experience – Discover on this video how to Transfer Malwarebytes Browser Guard settings to another browser Import and Export: Global settings are here! Now your preferences and customized rules can work with all your browsers – even on other devices.Your time is precious, set your own boundaries and truly enjoy what matters to you online. Fully customize the content you want to block while you – or your kids – are surfing. Content Control: Dial up your control of your browsing experience and define what’s appropriate for you, or not.Now Browser Guard* comes with some exclusive features for Premium users on Windows: Don’t wait and install it on all your browsers!
Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a free browser extension that you can install as a plugin to your favorite web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari). Say hello to a safer, faster and cleaner browsing experience.