Selecting and Keeping Antivirus Software Updated
Some cybersecurity threats can be thwarted by using antivirus software to protect your computer and mobile devices. Learn tips for selecting antivirus software and how antivirus software can work for you.
Choosing antivirus software that’s right for you
Antivirus software provided by your OS has limitations
While major operating system manufacturers provide free, built-in antivirus software like Windows Defender (Microsoft) or XProtect (Mac) on devices like computers, tablets and mobile phones, this software may not be enough to protect your devices from malware. The scope of pre-installed antivirus software is often limited so it's important that you purchase and install reputable third-party antivirus software to protect your devices.
Free antivirus software at TMU
CCS provides Sophos Antivirus software free for all TMU faculty and staff for use on work devices. Download the version you need:
Students, faculty and staff can also protect their home computers free-of-charge with Sophos Home (external link) .
You can protect your mobile iOS and Android devices by downloading the Sophos Intercept X (external link) app for mobile. The Sophos Intercept X app for mobile is free and does not require a TMU account to download. TMU does not provide support for the mobile version of Sophos Intercept X so please do not use your TMU account when setting up the app on your mobile devices.
- Sophos Intercept X for mobile (iOS) (external link)
- Sophos Intercept X for mobile (Android) (external link)
Tips for selecting and using third-party antivirus software
When choosing third-party antivirus software, it’s important to:
Choose antivirus software from a reputable source. Be wary of free options from unknown sources as malicious actors can disguise malware as antivirus software.
Ensure the software is ad free and has important features like:
- File scanning for malware
- Virus quarantining and removal
Getting the most out of your antivirus software
Antivirus software protects you best when maintained properly. You can do this by:
- making sure your antivirus software is current
- setting your antivirus software to scan for viruses daily
- allowing the software to automatically scan a large variety of files, including email attachments and online downloads
- turning on automatic updates for your antivirus software
While not a concern for Google Drive, files shared on some third-party cloud applications can sometimes slip past antivirus software, leaving you vulnerable to virus infection. Where possible:
- edit shared documents on the cloud drive instead of downloading the file to your device
- notify a document owner immediately if they’ve shared an infected file. Do not reach out to a document owner you don’t know.
- use your judgement to determine if it’s necessary to notify document contributors as well, in case they’ve downloaded the file to their devices