Anti-Malware vs. Antivirus: Which Software Offers the Best Protection?

Malware is a broad term that encompasses all kinds of malicious software, including viruses. If you've ever heard of Trojans, worms, adware, ransomware, or spyware, to name a few, then you've heard of malware. 

Traditionally, antivirus software was designed to identify and prevent computer viruses. In this day and age, antivirus programs do a lot more than detect viruses. Specialized anti-malware software can be beneficial if you have serious concerns about emerging cyber threats like deepfakes, cryptojacking, zero-day exploits, and more. But for the most part, a solid antivirus program with real-time protection should have you covered. 

In this article, we dig deeper into how antivirus and anti-malware work to protect your device from dangerous viruses and other malware.

What is antivirus?

Antivirus software is designed to prevent, detect, scan, and delete viruses from your device. Most antivirus software runs in the background while you’re online and provides real-time protection against harmful cyberattacks. Some antivirus programs include additional security solutions like a firewall or ad blockers.

The main purpose of antivirus is to guard against computer viruses and remove any threats detected. Your antivirus should keep your device clean and malware-free.

Different antivirus software works in various ways:

• Behavior-based detection looks at the intention of an object. If it’s unauthorized, the antivirus shows the file as having malicious intent.
• Heuristic-based detection looks for previously known issues and flags them as suspicious.
• Signature-based detection will tag an object for future reference after analyzing it for specific patterns.
• Application whitelisting only allows files and programs to run that are known to be good and can help protect endpoints like your smartphone, tablet, or other connected devices.

What is anti-malware?

Anti-malware software scans a device to prevent and remove malware, or malicious software and files. It's developed to safeguard your computer system from various types of malware, including viruses, Trojans, adware, ransomware, spyware, keyloggers, phishing, and worms.

Anti-malware software is designed to protect your device from newer, more sophisticated cybersecurity threats, like the ones "in the wild." In-the-wild threats are viruses that spread on real-world devices, not just in test environments. These threats have been discovered on machines being used for real-world purposes.

Anti-malware uses three techniques to detect malware issues. These methods are behavior-based, signature-based, and sandboxing.

• Behavior-based detection looks for suspect processes that match malicious behaviors.
• Signature-based detection uses a unique digital footprint of malware that has already been discovered and looks for it on your device.
• Sandboxing runs the suspect object in a virtual environment and analyzes the behavior, isolating it from other files for safety.

What’s the difference between antivirus and anti-malware?

Antivirus software protects your device against more established threats, like traditional worms, viruses, and Trojans. Antivirus software typically offers better protection against malicious files, such as unsolicited email attachments or links lurking in phishing emails. Antivirus programs are also a strong protector against viruses generally obtained through external devices like USBs.

Antivirus programs are good at protecting against more predictable, dangerous malware, whereas anti-malware technology focuses on catching evolving online threats. Anti-malware software prevents and removes more sophisticated malware and newer exploits, like polymorphic malware and zero-day malware. Sometimes, anti-malware updates the detection rules faster than antivirus software, so it may detect malware faster and more quickly against newer threats if you browse the internet frequently.

For example, polymorphic viruses can change form to avoid detection, replicating themselves into different shapes. Since these threats can change form, it’s nearly impossible for antivirus programs to catch or prevent them. Similarly, zero-day malware gets pushed out before software companies have the time to release a patch for the problem. These threats are aptly named because there is zero time to develop a patch. That delay leaves a wide open window for virus vulnerability. 

Because threat actors don't stop launching malware attacks, it's crucial to have real-time protection against known threats and newer threats. 

Which one should I use?

The good news is that you don't have to choose between antivirus or anti-malware protection. All viruses fall under the malware umbrella, and any software marketed to prevent and remove viruses should include broader malware protection. So "traditional" antivirus programs like McAfee and Norton include protections for modern-day threats. Even Microsoft Defender offers real-time protection against spyware and ransomware, in addition to antivirus coverage. 

Historically, consumers only had the option to purchase hard copies of antivirus protection, leaving them vulnerable to emerging cyber threats. Now, with cloud-based subscriptions, antivirus software is continually updated. As a result, antivirus companies can offer real-time protection and cast a wider net against known malware attacks. Most antivirus programs also offer malware detection and malware removal tools, so no matter which one you choose, you're covered. 

Featured antivirus products with real-time malware protection

FAQs

Bottom line

If you want an antivirus program that prevents viruses, rootkits, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, and other kinds of malware (to name a few), invest in software that offers real-time malware protection. Your best bet is to opt for a program that offers specialized protection for your particular operating system or device. The best cybersecurity software with antivirus protection also provides advanced security features — like a VPN, parental controls, phishing protection, and more — to safeguard your entire family from cyber threats.