Antivirus = Safe — Malware = Payloads

An antivirus product is a program designed to detect and remove viruses and other kinds of malicious software from your computer or laptop. It includes some services that may help protect you against unauthorized programs, spyware (adware), rogue Trojans (“worms”) as well any security threat.

Malicious software – known as malware – is code that can harm your computers and laptops, and the data on them. Your devices can become infected by inadvertently downloading malware that’s in an attachment linked to a dubious email, or hidden on a USB drive, or even by simply visiting a dodgy website. Once it’s on your computer or laptop, malware can steal your data, encrypt it so you can’t access it, or even erase it completely. For this reason it’s important that you always use antivirus software, and keep it up to date to protect your data and devices. A good idea would be Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (at least from version 1706) on all your pc`s and not disable it.

Also a Managed Malware solution like Malwarebytes Enpoint Protection could deliver you qn email every time an abnormal behaviour occurs, or simply automatically quarantine the threat.

Now back to malware, you found a USB drive in the parking lot ? please by all means do not directly plug it in your computer or in any company pc ! Bring it to an automated Cleaning station for external devices (most companies have one) , have it checked and cleaned. Avaddon for example only needs a small contact with a device to inject it`s payload and spread it on all the infrastructure. I have seen a case of infection and it was nasty, it has almost closed the business.

Do I need antivirus products on my smartphone and tablet?

Yes you do, no matter what others say with you only install licensed/safe software on the G Store . No, you don`t , there are tones of dodgy apps on the G store that spy, damage and pollute your device, that is a known fact.

An unprotected phone or tablet is a open door for damaging payloads. I have seen several totally damaged (software wise ) phones to say , they need threat protection and Anti Concrete protection ( for some weird reason glass always breakes when falling on concrete).

There are many splendid products on the market that can protect your phone or tablet, try some out and you will see what their scans show ( you will be surprised).

Funny story I read on a blog :

I had a guy complaining that his computer had been hacked (of course every time anything strange ever goes wrong, it’s been “hacked”) because whenever he booted the computer, opened a program, closed a program, whatever, the entire theme song to Reading Rainbow would play. The computer hadn’t been hacked, he had just left it unattended and someone came by and set every single Windows sound to play the whole song. I changed the theme and was done. Lesson learned: never leave a computer unattended because there are tricazksters out there!“

Ya all stay safe.