Antivirus Vs Firewall; We all want to keep our computers safe and prevent cyberattacks or malware. In recent years, not only have the number of attacks increased, but they have also become more complex. In addition, we are faced with a variety of protection methods, the most important of which are firewalls and antivirus. In this article, we want to take a closer look at these tools.
Most users confuse firewall and antivirus security tools. Although both are effective in terms of security, this does not mean that their work is the same. So what is the difference between them and how do they work at all? Stay tuned to Wironal for answers to these questions until the end of this article.
Antivirus Vs Firewall
What is an antivirus?
Antivirus software has a specific task: The task of antivirus is to search and scan files for viruses. While most of these programs are known as antivirus, most of these programs are actually anti-malware, which viruses are also a type of malware.
It does not matter if you are online or offline, the antivirus should be able to detect and record any malware such as viruses, computer worms, trojans, adware, and spyware. As long as hackers are online and looking for a way to break into your device and steal your information, antivirus software plays a vital role in keeping you safe.
Antivirus works in the background to keep you safe while browsing the web or downloading anonymous files. But how does the antivirus find out that one file contains malware and the other file does not have a problem?
How does antivirus work?
Most commercial antivirus software does not use artificial intelligence, so they cannot detect viruses and malware themselves. Someone else has to teach them something that the manufacturer does most of the time.
Antivirus works by scanning incoming files, code, and scripts on your device. It does not matter if you downloaded these items from the web or entered them into your computer through an external storage device such as a USB flash drive or a CD, they should be scanned anyway.
In the scanning process, the antivirus compares the contents of each file with a rich database of known malware. That’s why antivirus should always run in the background and constantly scan your device for hidden malware.
Although it may seem like we are dealing with a one-time task and the antivirus should only scan the incoming files instead of the entire hard drive, no antivirus is completely and 100% effective. Antivirus developers must constantly update their database to include the latest viruses and malicious scripts.
When antivirus is running continuously, its purpose is not to consume too many resources, but to scan all viruses and malware so that it does not hide anything from them and protects your system against them.
Do you need to install antivirus on your computer?
Although antiviruses want to ensure your security, they also have drawbacks. This software does not respect privacy and, of course, overwork the system CPU.
The only way you can stay safe without an antivirus is by how you deal with the online world. To do this, you must browse secure websites and, of course, download files from secure and reliable sources. If you do not belong to this group of people, it is better to go to the antivirus for your security.
What is a firewall?
As the name implies, we encounter a barrier between the device and the outside world, including the Internet. Unlike antivirus, the firewall does not neutralize the malware on your device and has nothing to do with scanning files. We have a security guard who monitors network data streams and checks their security before they can access your device.
We are faced with two types of firewalls: software and hardware. A software firewall is responsible for protecting you from incoming digital attacks. The hardware version prevents other people’s hardware from accessing your device, such as using a USB flash drive when the computer is not running.
A firewall works like an antivirus in the background, allowing you to control some of its rules. By changing the firewall rules and settings, you can specify data sources that can enter or exit the device from the Internet.
How does a firewall work?
Simply put, a firewall is a filtering system. A firewall is like a metal detector that you pass through at an airport. However, when it comes to how it works, we are faced with a function similar to antivirus.
As data flows through your system, the firewall scans a small portion of it and compares its findings with a database of verified threats. Data can pass through the firewall to pass all tests successfully.
Firewalls, like antivirus programs, need regular updates. Malware and malicious scripts can penetrate the wall and reach your device if they do not contain the latest security threats in their secure database. After that, you should hope that the antivirus will detect it before it is too late.
There are several ways in which a firewall can scan and configure your network stream. They differ in security and productivity, but all of them are useful in their uses, which include the following:
- Proxy service: This type of firewall protects you by creating a similar version of your device and connecting to the web. Input data does not communicate directly with your device and remains isolated. In fact, the proxy service is one of the most secure types of firewalls, yet it is extremely slow and consumes too many resources.
- Packet filtering: Firewalls that use packet filtering scan data in a small, small way. Each data packet is sent through a series of filters. Data packets identified as a threat are flagged and blocked and prevented from accessing your system.
- Surface Gateway: Instead of scanning the data itself, the Surface Gateway firewall monitors the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). Instead of scanning the contents of incoming data packets, the firewall ensures the security and legality of the connection and, instead of data, verifies its source. While this firewall is fast and efficient, it needs another security technology to prevent leaks.
Can system security be guaranteed without a firewall?
Firewalls are a protection measure. If you delete them, you need an alternative, even if you are cautiously browsing the web. Without a firewall, malicious data packets can find their way into your system.
If your computer is not connected to the Internet, you can experience security without the need for a firewall, and you certainly do not need it.
Do we need antivirus and firewall?
As we explained above about how antivirus and firewall work, we can not consider one as a substitute for the other. They work independently and differently to keep your system secure, although they sometimes support each other.
If you are looking for the highest security for your computer, keep both of them active and of course upgrade to access the latest databases.
