Features

Lukas Pelser, Sophos

Antivirus software is the thing everybody loves to hate. For many, it’s bloatware. From the moment you turn on your computer, it nags you about updates, scans and pop-ups that feel more like interruptions than protection. For others, it’s forever tied to John McAfee, the software pioneer turned fugitive whose personal life became as notorious as the product that still bears his name. And then there are those who believe that safety comes down to common sense. If you stop, think and don’t click on suspicious links, you’ll be fine. This might work when it comes to personal protection; after all, you’re in charge of your digital footprint. But in the office, where employees still write passwords on sticky notes or rush through outdated security training modules, self-restraint isn’t an adequate guardrail.

Antivirus software, the first versions of which appeared in the 1970s, has evolved. Traditional antivirus tools were built to spot malicious code or known signatures. They uncovered malware, stopped spyware and squashed worms. But when attackers started using legitimate tools like Power- Shell, admin privileges or even trusted applications, there was nothing for the antivirus to flag.