As for Windows? Well, Microsoft Defender Antivirus, which is included with every Windows PC, routinely aced the tests from third-party labs that measure the effectiveness of security software. Older Americans are significantly more likely to use third-party antivirus programs and pay for the software. Full disclosure here: I'm in the over-65 demographic, with a full head of gray hair, and I haven't used third-party antivirus software in decades. It found that roughly 54% of Americans use the default virus protection that comes with their device, while 46% use third-party antivirus programs. Americans over 65 are twice as likely to pay for third-party antivirus software than those under 45. If you're still paying Norton, McAfee, or Kaspersky for antivirus protection on your home PC, it's time to let that subscription expire. As ZDNET's Lance Whitney reported, as of September 29, Kaspersky is no longer able to provide antivirus signature updates and code updates for the banned products to customers in the US. Most attacks are launched by sophisticated criminal gangs and aimed at businesses, using vulnerabilities that are more likely to be in third-party software than they are in the OS itself. Apparently people do, but good luck finding reliable information on the market for antivirus software in 2024.
This Cyber News was published on www.zdnet.com. Publication date: Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:43:04 +0000