CrowdStrike, the security software that shut down much of the business world last Friday, shows that using antivirus software is a bad idea for most of us.
CrowdStrike's IT Crisis: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity #shorts
On Friday morning, CrowdStrike pushed out a bad software update to millions of computers that rely on its security software to protect against malware and cyberattacks, the kind that can take their systems offline. Except the update did just that, leaving millions of Windows computers stuck on the Blue Screen of Death, otherwise known as a BSOD. Payment systems, flight schedule networks, and more all broken because of an automatic update from a single vendor. And while security software may still be essential for corporate networks, this disaster offers a glimpse into the huge downsides of relying on software for your security, and why most people shouldn’t bother.
"I think if you don't know what you're doing […] you're better off without an AV suite. AV suites often have privacy and security issues, such as data collection, system vulnerabilities, and performance slowdowns. Instead, users can take advantage of built-in security features like Windows Defender," Craig Boyle, co-founder of IT services company MSP Blueshift, told Lifewire via email.
Antivirus software on your PC isn’t just useless; it can actually be detrimental to your cybersecurity. Yes, cybersecurity. First of all, your computer is already looking for viruses and malware. Both macOS and Windows scan software to make sure there’s nothing bad going on. By default, your Mac won’t even open an app that hasn’t been validated and pre-screened by Apple.
