10 Common Antivirus Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing

Last Updated on June 15, 2025 by Editorial

Antivirus software has been in use for a considerable time as a measure against cyber threats. However, various antivirus misconceptions have come about, impacting the usage of the software by both individuals and organizations. With time, this has led to poor security practices that put users at risk. 

Some are as a result of personal experiences, while others are as a result of assumptions that have developed over time. Whether it is 100% protection or slowed-down devices, all these are misconceptions that can impact one’s judgment. 

Below are some of the popular misconceptions to help you make informed decisions.

Misconception 1: Antivirus Software Guarantees 100% Protection

It is easy to trust antivirus software to be fully effective, but it may not be. Over time, developers have come up with new ways to improve the software, but on the other hand, malware creators are constantly developing threats. 

You also may be tricked into clicking links or even downloading files, voluntarily putting yourself at risk.

The software works by identifying threats, blocking, and then deleting, but this can be affected by limited detection of new and evolving threats. There is also a possibility that false positives may occur and therefore disrupt the workflow. 

In addition, some malware might be polymorphic (changes its code) or metamorphic (rewrites itself), making detection hard for security tools.

You can use other software alongside the antivirus software to improve your security. This includes Firewalls, VPNs, and  Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems. Regular software updates are also essential to ensure that new threats are detected and the software features are up-to-date. 

You should also consider installing Multi-Factor Authentication to improve your security. This is a security measure that requires users to provide multiple forms of verification to prove their identity. This will make it hard for malware creators to access a system, application, or account.

Misconception 2: Free Antivirus Software Is Just as Effective as Paid Versions

Various antivirus software have come up with a wide range of plans to cater to everyone’s needs. However, they have different degrees of functionality. 

Most free antivirus offers basic protection, limited customer support, and limited optimization features. They also have a reduced frequency of updates, which can leave your system vulnerable to new threats.

Certainly, free antivirus software isn’t enough to ensure safety for business and work use. This is because they lack essential tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and storage. Some also don’t offer real-time scanning but do it on demand, hence more risk of a security breach. 

Most of the time, they are only sufficient for basic home and personal use.  

On the contrary, paid plans tend to offer extensive protection, optimized performance, and frequent updates. Regular tests conducted by SE Labs (a cybersecurity research organization) have shown that paid versions are better at detecting target attacks and blocking vulnerabilities. 

Misconception 3: Antivirus Software Slows Down Your Computer

The slowing down of devices has become a common thing to experience nowadays. At times, this is attributed to antivirus software. You are likely to experience this with the software because of concurrent scanning, scheduled full system scans, or background updates. 

All this can lead to a slowdown of your devices because they have to process numerous things at once.

Antivirus software developers have devised new ways to ensure this is dealt with. Intelligence scanning is one of the ways that is being used to ensure that there are fewer scanning times. Other methods include cloud processing and scheduling of scans during idle periods. 

Machine learning and AI are also coming up as new ways to deal with these challenges. They are designed to balance intelligence techniques to optimize scanning processes, resource usage, and decision-making.

You can also play a crucial role in ensuring that your devices are not slowed down. This can be achieved by turning off automatic updates and scans and scheduling them for times when you are idle. 

On top of that, you can disable some features that come with some software, such as password managers and system cleaners. Regular software updates are also necessary to get the latest features. 

Misconception 4: You Only Need Antivirus Software on Windows Devices

Most operating systems require antivirus software for the safety of their users. Antivirus software is commonly used with Windows because of its large base, and so many malware creators target it. 

Other than that, Android requires this software, especially when downloading from third-party sources. MacOS was stereotyped as one that did not require antivirus software, but it has a growing number of users, and so malware creators have started targeting it.

For a long time, Mobile and Internet of Things devices (IoT) have been a haven for users but recently, there has been an increase in threats to these devices. These threats include malware, ransomware, theft of personal information, and even social engineering attacks. 

On IoT devices, they mainly target weak authentication and a lack of encryption, which are there by default.

On the other hand, many software developers have started having a multi-device approach to ensure cybersecurity for everyone. The approach has a plethora of benefits, which include comprehensive protection and improved data protection for all devices. 

Not forgetting the unified threat detection and response that will protect most operating systems from these threats.

Misconception 5: Antivirus Software Can Detect All Types of Malware

With every move taken to ensure cybersecurity, malware creators work tirelessly to devise new ways to evade them. This has made antivirus software unable to provide total protection against all threats. 

Some of the methods used include polymorphic and metamorphic malware, which work by changing their code and rewriting themselves, respectively. This enables some malware to evade security detection tools.

They also use Zero-day exploits, which are a type of cyberattack that targets software vulnerabilities unknown to the vendor or security teams. They are dangerous because no patch or fix exists to address the vulnerability, rendering the system defenseless.

Advanced ransomware is another method used to bypass antivirus software. It entails incorporating techniques that go beyond simple data encryption to maximize damage.

To counter this, various software can be used together with an antivirus to achieve cybersecurity. Firewalls can be used to monitor network traffic based on security rules, while VPNs can be used to enhance security by encrypting data in private networks.

Misconception 6: Antivirus Software Is Only Needed for Downloading Files

Cyberthreats occur in diverse ways, targeting users and systems, and are not limited to downloaded files only. They can occur in ways such as phishing attacks, social engineering, malvertising, and even through unprotected networks. 

These methods can trick users into revealing sensitive information or even visiting compromised websites that can put them at risk.

Another common method is through USB and external devices, which can spread viruses when infected. To realize cybersecurity, it is important to ensure there is real-time protection of systems and data. 

One of the key reasons why this is important is to minimize data loss and theft, which can occur in a short time. 

This can be achieved by detecting malicious processes attempting to access or transfer sensitive data. Also, new and emerging threats can be dealt with easily through heuristic analysis and machine learning, even if the threats aren’t already in the databases.

Misconception 7: Antivirus Software Is Useless Against Hackers

Antivirus software can’t protect you against hackers, but in reality, it makes it harder for your device to fall victim. This is done through real-time detection, protection against phishing attacks, and blocking of malicious network traffic. 

Machine learning is also another way in which the software is able to counter threats because it learns from data and improves performance. This means that it is able to stop future threats that have a similar approach.

One recent example is the WannaCry Ransomware attack that occurred in 2017, where ransomware was able to exploit the vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows. In response, various antivirus software were able to detect this behavior and block it. 

Despite the widespread damage of the ransomware, the antivirus software was able to put a halt to it, weakening its impact. This is just to mention a few incidents when antivirus software has played a role in ensuring cybersecurity is realized.

Misconception 8: Installing Multiple Antiviruses Is Better

Multiple installation of antivirus software on a single system is not recommended because of the negative effects that come with it. 

One of the effects is conflicting operations, which can lead to system performance issues or even reduced effectiveness. It can also be expensive because some antivirus software requires payment to function perfectly.

The software works by performing background scans, and so multiple installations mean that the system will have to process many things at once. In the long run, this can lead to the slowing down of devices or even the jamming of systems.

Instead of adding more security, most systems usually work against each other, thus creating more vulnerabilities. 

You are advised to select a reliable antivirus software with real-time protection and regular updates to get the best protection. Another option is using on-demand scanners like Malwarebytes which run scans when activated. 

Such tools don’t interfere with antivirus software and provide real-time protection.

Misconception 9: Modern Operating Systems Don’t Need Antivirus

Modern operating systems have new and better features, which at times can make you think you do not require antivirus software. The truth is that these operating systems need the software because most of them might have some vulnerabilities. 

Most outdated operating systems don’t receive regular security patches, making them vulnerable to new malware.

On the other hand, they are also not immune to new and constantly evolving threats. Additionally, you can easily fall into the trap of social engineering by clicking fraudulent links and visiting malicious websites. With antivirus software, such threats can be detected in real-time and dealt with.

User privacy is also one of the things that is addressed by antivirus software, by using proactive threat detection and secure browsing. Antivirus software is necessary to ensure that both modern and old operating systems are safe.

Misconception 10: Once Installed, Antivirus Requires No Attention

Some users have a misconception that once antivirus software is installed, it doesn’t require any attention. The reality is they do because there are evolving and new threats that tend to target the vulnerabilities of the software. 

This means that you are required to do regular software updates or to turn on automatic updates to get new features.

In some cases, you can also be required to carry out manual scans to ensure that all cyber threats are dealt with. It is also a good practice to regularly check on the software to ensure that it is working as it is supposed to. 

You might find that your subscription has expired, so you don’t have protection against some threats. 

Other than that, a one-time purchase can be a suitable option if you don’t want to keep checking on the software. All in all, it is necessary to check your software to ensure that you get the best out of it.

Conclusion

Most of the misconceptions about antiviruses can compromise your security because they entail some wrong practices. It is better to get the correct information concerning them to ensure you understand cybersecurity. 

Antivirus software is a good invention, but like any other, it might have its downsides. It is therefore necessary to ensure that you learn how to get the best out of it. 

You should also ensure that you make informed decisions when purchasing, handling, or even managing various antivirus software. With that, it is easy to realize cybersecurity and get the best out of it. 

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