{"id":16629,"date":"2019-04-25T10:06:43","date_gmt":"2019-04-25T14:06:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/?p=16629"},"modified":"2019-04-25T10:06:43","modified_gmt":"2019-04-25T14:06:43","slug":"next-generation-antivirus-the-future-of-malware-protection-or-marketing-hype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/next-generation-antivirus-the-future-of-malware-protection-or-marketing-hype\/","title":{"rendered":"Next generation antivirus: the future of malware protection or marketing hype?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article was published on the Emsisoft Blog recently. It is well-written and educational – especially if you’re interested in keeping up with all the hype and buzzwords companies like to float these days. It’s not written in “geek-speak”.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, just what is “next-gen” antivirus? Is it better than what you’re using? Is your security software protecting you in this age of next-gen protection?\u00a0 Well, we’re not experts when it comes to the inner-workings of security software, but luckily our friends at Emsisoft are!<\/span><\/p>\n

We’re happy to repost this Emsisoft article so all of you will be better able to separate the hyperbole from the facts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Next generation antivirus: the future of malware protection or marketing hype?<\/span><\/h1>\n

If you have even a passing interest in malware or technology in general, you might have heard the term \u201cnext generation antivirus\u201d (or \u201cnextgen AV\u201d or \u201cNGAV\u201d) being thrown around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understandably, there\u2019s quite a bit of confusion about what nextgen AV actually is and how it differs from traditional antivirus software.<\/span><\/p>\n

In today\u2019s post, we\u2019re going to weigh in with our opinion on the nextgen antivirus debate and give you some insight to help you make a more informed decision about your antivirus software.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the difference between traditional AV and NGAV?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Interestingly, there\u2019s no single definition for nextgen AV. To some, the term is used to describe endpoint security products that use innovative technologies to provide better protection against a wider range of threats. To others, it\u2019s little more than promotional mumbo-jumbo, buzzwords marketers have dreamed up to sell what is otherwise just plain, old, unsexy antivirus software.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our take on the matter:<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional antivirus<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the sake of this article, we\u2019ll define traditional AV as antivirus software that uses signature checking and heuristic analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n

What exactly does that mean? Well, in the early days, antivirus software relied heavily on signature checkers that could detect malware by cross-referencing files with a database of known threats. It was a simple system, but adequate to deal with the rudimentary malware that were floating around.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, as malware grew more advanced and the volume of new malware being released to the world skyrocketed, signature checkers steadily became less effective. In response, many antivirus vendors started using heuristics and behavioral-based protection to detect suspicious characteristics and stop new threats \u2013 even those that had never been seen before.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a while, these two systems combined allowed many antivirus vendors to provide reasonably good malware protection. However, the world of malware is rarely static. In a bid to keep pace with rapidly evolving malware, antivirus companies have introduced various new and innovative technologies that are designed to provide a more holistic solution. This has ushered in the era of nextgen AV.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nextgen antivirus<\/span><\/h3>\n

What exactly is nextgen AV? Much like traditional AV, there\u2019s no clear-cut definition, but it\u2019s generally accepted that nextgen AV takes a more proactive and system-centric approach to malware, with the aim of providing superior protection against a wider range of threats.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to malware signatures and heuristic analysis, many nextgen AVs use technology such as:<\/span><\/p>\n