Antivirus Solutions For Your Clients

With the recent news that Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP with the security suite Microsoft Security Essentials, we’re hearing more reports about just how many computers are still running Windows XP, from government computers to machines at educational institutions and corporate enterprises. Those who used MSE will have to switch to something else, or upgrade their operating system.

As support for XP is also dropping early this year from Microsoft, aside from the proposed costly package of update provisions for those who have no other choice, many are choosing to upgrade their operating system at this time as well. There’s a few tips for Techs who have to manage clients who insist on sticking with XP, and a few tips for Techs who have to manage antivirus for their clients with updated operating systems.

1. Avoid Outdated Software

I recently came across a new installation of an old antivirus program on a friend’s machine. Someone had possibly used it in the past and thought it was still good antivirus protection. It was good antivirus protection against threats faced back in the day it was developed. However, the type of detection method it used is rather outdated, so it’s not recommended anymore. It still gets updates from the developer, but it’s clunky and errors out often, and often deletes programs that are not malware at all.

Make sure that the antivirus solution you use is updated often, uses modern detection methods, and can protect against threats that your clients are likely to come across, based on their computing habits you’ve seen so far. That takes us to the second tip.

2. Antivirus Solutions Depend On The Client Sometimes

It’s true. Most of us who have been using the internet for a long time know what to look for when we get an email that has a sender name we recognize but the subject is a bit odd, or it has an attachment. We also know not to click on those flashing banners and fake ‘download’ buttons that are actually ads to take you to another website. We don’t visit websites that offer game hacks and cheats and download anything just desperate to get something that works, like many youngsters. We often know what to look for when installing programs to ensure nothing gets installed that we didn’t ask for.

While the risks are still there, many can get by and don’t get infected, and they just run an average antivirus program. But for those who aren’t quite computer literate and download attachments left and right, who open emails without checking who the sender is, and who search on Google for free (insert paid software here) and then download whatever they find, they need something stiffer, something more restrictive. For instance, some antivirus programs will notify you if something suspicious is downloaded, and rather than even let you have a look at it when you get it completely downloaded, it’s deleted immediately. You’re blocked from visiting malicious websites automatically, and emails are scanned upon download.

For those clients who always seem to get infected a few times a month, I’d recommend going with the strongest antivirus program you can convince them to get. In the long run, it will save them money, and they’ll appreciate that when they don’t have to keep coming to you to get rid of the latest infection, yet again.

3. It Doesn’t Have To Be ‘Light vs. Effective’

For many older operating systems, being able to handle a modern powerful antivirus solution is out of the question when it takes up so much of the available resources to run that it’s not really worth trying to use the computer for anything serious. In those cases, you could use a combination of anti-malware programs, one as a passive protection and one as a scanner that is scheduled to run often, perhaps using Malwarebytes’ antivirus solution. Don’t just install the least effective but most lightweight program just because that’s all the computer can handle. As long as you don’t have two real time scanning programs running next to each other you should be fine, but if you’re not sure, do a little digging and see if there are any conflicts reported.

4. Keep Up With The Results and News

I know when the source code for one popular antivirus solution hit the internet a while back, I immediately advised any clients and friends using that software to get rid of it and get something else, including any other products distributed by the same corporation that had a security risk. While the company later stated the leak had no impact on current products, having your source code leaked on the internet is a blow that will take time to build credibility back from.

Meanwhile, people are studying the source code and figuring out what kind of protocols were enacted to secure the breach. Any sort of progress in that direction is progress I don’t want my clients to have to face with their antivirus solution, which is why I still can’t recommend programs that have been compromised in such a way. If you keep up with the Tech news, you’ll hear about news items that correspond to programs your clients use, and being on top with that and notifying them of any issues with the programs you manage for them is a good way to show some personal interest in your clients.

Keep up with the latest lab tests and fields tests and their results, too. I can’t recommend one over the other here, because we all have our favorite antivirus solutions, either because they are lightweight and we have had good experience with it, or because it’s more effective than anything we’ve ever come across. Just make sure it uses modern detection methods, receives constant updates, and can protect against current threats.

What are your favorite antivirus solutions?