How to choose a good antivirus for Chrome

Google Chrome is very well-known in the sense that it is widely used. It is, however, not very well understood. In this article, we’ll clear up what you need to know to keep yourself safe when using Chrome.

The basics of Google Chrome

Google Chrome started out life as a web browser. In other words, a way to get online and surf the internet. Essentially that’s all it still is. Chromebooks are just basic laptops which run a variation of Google Chrome in place of a regular operating system. This means that they can run cloud-based apps, in other words, apps that run from the internet rather than the local computer. They are, however, almost completely useless without an internet connection.

In spite of Google’s best efforts, ChromeOS has yet to become a serious contender as a mainstream operating system. This means that, in and of itself, it should be of little interest to malware creators. The problem is that malware created for Android will often run just fine on ChromeOS. The good news is that antivirus software created for Android will also often run just fine on ChromeOS. So basically if you’re actually using ChromeOS, then your best bet is to look for an antivirus which has a proven track record on Android.

Chrome itself, the web browser, runs on just about any computer. That is one of its big strengths. Keeping yourself safe online while using Chrome means picking a good antivirus for the underlying operating system and trusting to that to keep you safe while you surf the web with Chrome.

The basics of choosing a good antivirus

For the most part, good antivirus programs/apps will have much the same functionality regardless of the platform on which they are intended to run. Here are the key points of a good antivirus for Chrome (or any other platform).

A good antivirus is updated regularly and through the cloud

At this point in time, this is non-negotiable. The amount of malicious software is increasing all the time. To put this in perspective, from the earliest days of IT up to the arrival of the internet, there were only a handful of computer viruses in existence. Now there are estimated to be about 100,000 and their abilities go way beyond what those primitive viruses could do. Not only that, but viruses are now only just one, specific, form of malicious software. There is now spyware, adware and ransomware as well. It’s probably safe to assume that, given time, more types of malware will be created.

This means that security companies must update their software regularly to ensure that their users stay protected against threats as they emerge from the cyberether. In the old days, companies used to create updates which needed to be downloaded to and installed on the local PC. These days, the preferred approach is to use the cloud to host updates and just have the local PC connect to a database of virus definitions (basically descriptions of viruses). There are three reasons why this is the better approach.

First of all, it is quicker than downloading and installing updates. The difference in speed may only be slight, but when you multiply it over constant updates, it really does add up.

Secondly, it avoids the possibility of human error. Everybody has experienced a time when they were sure they did something and it turned out that they hadn’t. If that happens when you mean to update your antivirus for Chrome (or any other platform), then the consequences could be devastating. This is no exaggeration given the capabilities of modern malware.

Last, but by no means least, this approach reduces the burden on the host computer. The significance of this benefit is only set to grow as the volume of malware continues to increase.

A good antivirus will have a sandbox

A sandbox is basically a quarantine area where malware is taken to be treated. This ensures that if it springs any nasty surprises before it goes, these will be contained in the sandbox, rather than creating issues for your PC as a whole.

A good antivirus will have a firewall

Firewalls are often marketed as “browsing protection”. Essentially they check incoming and outgoing internet traffic to keep you safe from hackers trying to gain entry to your computer and to warn you when you look like you are going to visit a dangerous website or download a questionable file.

Comodo antivirus offers all of this and much more

If you’re using a Chromebook, you can click here to download Comodo antivirus for Android and if not you can click here to download Comodo antivirus for other platforms. Get the protection you need right now!

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