However, it is important to know the difference as an antivirus program and a firewall perform slightly different tasks and thus protect you in different ways. Therefore, in this article, we will address the question: what is the difference between antivirus software and a firewall? Antivirus Software Versus A Firewall: The DifferenceĪ virus scanner, also called antivirus software or anti-malware, and a firewall are both tools used to secure a computer or device connected to the Internet or another network. Simply put, a firewall is more of an external security measure – aka the security guy at the entrance of your building. NEFARENCE IANTIVIRUS SOFTWAREĪntivirus software is an internal security measure – aka the caretaker guy in your building.Ī firewall filters all your network traffic in order to prevent infected files, malware, and viruses from entering your computer or network. The goal of anti-malware, on the other hand, is to detect, disarm, and remove malware and viruses that are already on your computer or network. What Is Antivirus Software?Īn antivirus program, often referred to as a virus scanner, detects viruses and then quarantines them so that they can no longer cause any damage. Next, you have the option to delete the infected files, so that your entire system is safe again. The name “antivirus” sometimes refers to a more old-fashioned type of program that mainly tackles more traditional forms of malware on your computer or network, such as viruses, trojans and computer worms. So, in a way, antimalware is a more evolved form of an antivirus program.Īntimalware programs, on the other hand, are capable of dealing with many different types of malware, including adware and spyware. In practice, however, the two terms are often used interchangeably. Most contemporary antivirus programs also stop malware, although people often refer to them as “antivirus programs”.Ī virus scanner “scans” the files on your computer in order to detect whether any viruses are present. This may involve real-time scans as well as periodic or manual scans. The program compares the files on your computer with a blacklist. This blacklist is a database that contains a list of all viruses and malware that the virus scanner already knows about. Many scanners also try to predict if your computer could be infected with malware based on, for example, unusual behavior or suspicious file properties. This is done to intercept newer forms of viruses and malware that are not yet blacklisted. A prediction is just that, however, your virus scanner makes “a guesstimate”, but cannot be sure. Some virus scanners make more mistakes than others.Īre you looking for more detailed information on virus scanners? Then read our article about antivirus software. What Is A Firewall?Ī firewall protects your computer in a different way than a virus scanner. Unlike a virus scanner, a firewall filters all your internet traffic before it even enters your network or computer. Next, it decides which internet traffic is safe enough to enter your network. The “rules” that a firewall applies to determine this vary widely. In the Windows Firewall’s settings, for example, you can create a rule that says only IP addresses that fall within a specific range of IP addresses are allowed access to your network.įirewalls can consist of both hardware and software.
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