Antivirus vs Anti-malware: which is best for you?

It’s no secret that the sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks have been growing steadily for the last few years, in part due to AI opening the doors to even low-skilled threat actors to launch successful attacks. So, if you think you’re too small a target, think again - there’s a high possibility someone will target you at random in a spray attack.

That said, you can certainly minimize any potential damage and circumvent the danger by investing in capable cybersecurity software. The question is which one?

This is where the best antivirus software and best anti-malware tools come into play. While they’re often used interchangeably, these tools actually serve different purposes and are complementary parts of modern security efforts.

Join us as we explore the key differences and help clarify which one you should use.

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Anti-malware: Targeted protection

As the name suggests, anti-malware software is designed for zeroing in on a specific cyber threat referred to as malware. Granted, this can be confusing as malware is often labeled as a virus and vice versa, but they’re actually different.

Malware is an umbrella term for different types of attacks or software that includes ransomware, trojans, spyware, and viruses. So, a virus is a type of malware that harms your devices through self-replication.

So, where do the anti-malware tools fit in?

In simple terms, they generally employ advanced detection techniques and removal capabilities to protect your device against all sorts of malware, not just viruses.

Take behavioral analysis, for instance. Many anti-malware offerings rely on it to recognize suspicious activity on a device, proactively safeguarding you from security threats.

Sandboxing is another technique that’s quite popular as it isolates the troublesome file and allows it to run freely in a simulated environment separate from your system. In this sandbox, the tool can safely analyze the suspect file’s behavior without putting your device in jeopardy.

It doesn’t stop there, though. Even if you used an antivirus, there’s a small possibility that a piece of harmful software snuck through your defenses. In that case, anti-malware programs are very helpful as they can recognize hidden malware that regular antivirus software is unable to identify (at least not yet).

Arguably, the best example of this is rootkits- malicious programs designed for stealth that embed themselves deeply within your device computer and can modify system processes. This provides remote access to attackers, who then have free rein to do their shady business, such as stealing your data or using your computer to launch further cyberattacks.

However, the biggest advantage of anti-malware programs is their ability to handle emerging threats (which are often more sophisticated) and new exploits that are popping up at an alarming frequency.

Antivirus: Overarching protection

As mentioned previously, viruses are a type of malware that self-replicate to infect new devices (hosts). For example, file infector is a popular virus that latches onto a file, and once opened, the virus code executes and damages other programs or replicates itself to other files.

Although the name alone may suggest an antivirus only goes for, well, viruses, today’s incarnations are effective against different types of malware. The primary difference is in terms of detection.

While anti-malware takes on a more real-time approach to detect threats, an antivirus relies on signature-based detection that compares code or files against a database of signatures (fancy word for patterns). This isn’t to say that antivirus is paralyzed when faced with an unknown threat, as it often also employs heuristic analysis to examine suspicious behaviors in the code to recognize modified or unfamiliar pieces of malware.

Still, even though anti-malware is better at catching emerging threats, antivirus solutions go beyond malware. In addition to the core protection engine, these apps can do wonders for your overall security and often come with extra features such as a password manager, firewalls, VPN, and a secure browser.

Who are these solutions built for?

Answering everyone would be a cop-out, but in broad terms, antivirus software is practically built for most general users. This makes perfect sense as it often includes phishing protection (blocks websites that can steal your personal information) and spam filters that block malicious emails, which everyone can benefit from.

Anti-malware, on the other hand, is generally employed by high-risk users, like remote workers, gamers, or those who partake in activities such as P2P sharing.

It’s also useful for general browsing, especially since cybersecurity threats are only becoming more of a problem with each passing day. So, everyone can benefit from installing anti-malware, regardless of their perceived risk level.

Can antivirus and anti-malware work in tandem?

The short answer is yes.

A combination of broad protection afforded by an antivirus software and more sophisticated defense from anti-malware can become the crux of your layered digital security system.

Look at it this way – an antivirus is ideal for the frontlines and is enough to safeguard you from common threats you’re bound to encounter online. If any sneaky piece of malware gets through it, your anti-malware tool will be ready to neutralize the threat.

In case you’re overwhelmed by the prospect of having to install two different pieces of software, you have nothing to worry about. While you can definitely go for separate tools, a fortunate fact is that plenty of vendors recognized the need for software that combines the best of both worlds. Thus, you’ll have no trouble finding antivirus suites that utilize sophisticated anti-malware techniques to get rid of online vermin.

Best antivirus software with anti-malware capabilities

Though by no means an extensive list, some of these popular antivirus solutions have powerful anti-malware capabilities.

For example, Bitdefender refers to its behavioral analysis as a “Process Inspector” and is certainly capable of providing you with a layered defense that gets the job done. In addition to using machine learning to mitigate threats, Bitdefender also employs sandboxing to evaluate the true risks of suspicious files – no wonder it’s on our list of best antivirus software.

Another option is Norton 360, which is capable of AI-powered detection and comes packed with nifty security features such as Dark Web Monitoring, Cloud Backup, Parental Controls, and a Secure VPN (among others).

Other vendors like McAfee and Avast are all viable options. In fact, Avast’s ‘Behavioral Shield’ is a default protection that is included even in its freemium version.

Considering that anti-malware capabilities are becoming a mainstay in the world of antivirus suites, it’s hard to make a choice. Don’t fret it, though. Your quest for the optimal security solution will probably boil down to pricing, features, and how well they run. In other words, most of the big-name vendors are quite effective in defending you against malware.

Case in point, most third-party tests confirm that these solutions are pretty darn powerful when it comes to malware protection. For instance, recent malware tests conducted by AV-Comparatives lab on various AVs reveal that the top providers often have online detection and protection rates as high as 99% (99.6% in the case of Avast).

Offline detection numbers are often similar, meaning that you can rely on these vendors to keep you safe from harm when browsing the web.

Are these tools enough to protect you from malware?

Antivirus and anti-malware share quite a few common traits, with the key differences being that the former delivers targeted protection and the latter offers a broader level of security. If you fear using just one will leave you with glaring holes in your defenses, you’re free (even encouraged) to run both in tandem or purchase a solution that combines both to ensure all bases are covered.

Keep in mind that the best defense against cyberthreats is your common sense. Despite having near-perfect detection rates, there’s always a possibility that a hacker will find some way to sneak a harmful piece of software onto your device that an anti-malware solution may overlook.

Depending on how you look at it, an antivirus with all the security extras can be potentially dangerous if it leads you to throw caution to the wind. Think of it as nothing but a helpful tool that is there only to make things easier for you, not as an infallible shield that will keep you safe in all scenarios.

While staying on top of cybersecurity threats is not an easy task, threading lightly through the digital realm and making full use of contemporary protections will significantly minimize your chances of falling prey to a cyberattack.