Should You Have a Malware Detector on Your PC in 2022?

It has been a long time since we have heard of somebody getting malware in this day and age, especially on their PCs. It might have been more common in the beginnings of the internet, in the early 2000s and maybe early 2010s, when messaging services had all the third party mods which came from untrusted sources.

Nowadays, getting malware on your PC is very hard, unless you try to go out of your way and visit shady sites which are all advertisements and packing files which shouldn’t be packed in archives which you should definitely not download.

Is a malware detector necessary in 2022? It might be, here is why.

Malware Has Evolved

We might be talking about malware which you download and install on Windows systems through untrusted packages which you got from shady sites, but both antivirus tools that come from Microsoft and malware makers have become more creative. 

Nowadays, it is easier to get malware from a javascript-filled page on the internet. You might get a couple of prompts and click Yes, hoping to get a reward or something. 

This is likely to happen to less tech savvy users who don’t run ad blockers and somehow find their ways to shady sites.

If the PC is going to be used by somebody who is not tech savvy and is unlikely to learn and become better at using the internet, install an antimalware service. Some of them are free and can run scans daily.

Basic Browsing Safety Habits Can Save You the Trouble

Just like you would practice safe driving habits when in traffic, so you should practice safe browsing habits online. Do not visit unverified sites which have no encryption, simply don’t. But, having encryption does not mean a site wishes you well. You can put SSL on any site, provided that you have a certificate. 

A site may have some malicious content for you to download if you click the wrong buttons. You can always check a site through review aggregators to see whether it has had problems in the past and whether the problems have been recent.

Antimalware on Linux Systems?

Should Linux users even consider an antivirus system? Well, not really, unless they have very specific things they need safekeeping and they want all the security possible. There are antivirus programs that run on Linux that run for free, but Linux users prefer open source software, so they stay away from closed source antivirus programs. 

Typically, a Linux user installs software from trusted repositories only and are less likely to get a virus. However, on servers, it might be necessary to have an antivirus and antimalware service running. 

What About Windows Systems?

Again, antimalware services are appreciated and can be put to use, particularly if one is running a system with tight security. Services that provide VPN are useful because they often have an antimalware or antivirus service as well. Purchasing an entire package should be good enough for most users. Such software works on Linux, but realistically, Windows users need it more.

In 2022, computer users are much better at knowing what to do and what not to do online. Sure, some older people know how to handle themselves online, but not all of them. Consider the use case and decide whether you need an antimalware service.