Although both VPN and antivirus software are part of the cybersecurity industry, they vary in the protections they offer. The former focuses on privacy and data security while the latter protects your device. Hence, VPN is solely for your online maneuvering, but antivirus can prevent the spread of malware throughout your device. But then a question arises, “Can a VPN prevent viruses?” You may have come across some dubious ads on the web claiming to offset viruses with a VPN. However, they are misleading.
A VPN is a completely different software from antivirus and hence incapable of fighting malware. Yes, some applications can prevent a few scenarios involving the spread of a virus, but no VPN can directly counter a virus. One would need a digital application known as antivirus software for that specific purpose. Thus, today’s topic regarding virus prevention via VPNs requires a clear-cut answer to help our readers. Thankfully, we intend on providing one full of facts and possible scenarios so continue reading.
What is antivirus software?
An antivirus is digital software that uses detection and quarantine methods to prevent the spread of a virus on your device. By extension, a virus is a harmful program/software that hides and damages your digital life. A virus can be of numerous types, causing irreproachable harm, but modern antivirus programs are competent enough to filter out most of them. How? An antivirus first scans the device for potential malware on your system and compares it against its database.
Then, on discovering such a threat, it either removes or quarantines it, depending on the severity. All this is done quietly on your device background. Thus, antivirus software is a detection and removal program that can strengthen user defense against possible intrusion. However, it does not operate on a network level like a VPN. Antivirus is localized and remains operable on the device level to ensure the health of your local hardware and software. Some common and popular viruses and malware that a competent antivirus can help you with are:
- Malicious BHOs (Browser Helper Objects)
- Browser Hijackers
- Ransomware
- Worm
- Trojan horses
- Keylogger
- Backdoor
- Rootkits
- Adware
- Malicious LSP (Layered Service Provider)
- Dialers
- Fraud tools
- Spyware
An antivirus can provide real-time protection against numerous threats that a VPN is incapable of. However, it can’t prevent trackers from targeting you or hackers from launching attacks like MITM (man in the middle) DoS, and DDoS. Hence, they both have their merits and demerits we touched upon in a previous article explaining the Antivirus v/s VPN comparison.
Coming back to the antivirus, it has a multitude of applicability regarding malware and virus prevention. The 24/7 automatic protection regularly scans your device for possible threats. It provides updates automatically. Antivirus software also inculcates numerous scanning techniques to provide a comprehensive experience. This program has tried and tested signature-based detection methods. But it also has the latest and revolutionary AI (Artificial Intelligence) behavioral detection methods.
VPN v/s Antivirus
The aforementioned segment wasn’t a direct comparison between the abilities of VPNs and antivirus programs. Instead, it is an outlook that reflects the popular opinions people have on the internet regarding virus prevention. Even if the person hasn’t heard of VPNs, they undoubtedly know what antivirus is and what it does. Although superficial, the public knows about viruses and its counterpart. But then, where does the VPN come into this debate? To be blunt, a VPN does help with virus deterrence. Although it may not be as effective as an antivirus, VPNs can prevent the offset of malware somewhat.
It does so by bogging them down at the source. Antivirus and VPNs can be similar in this regard. While the VPN tends to censor the origin of the malware, the antivirus aids in stopping viruses. Both are like prevention and cure together. Furthermore, many VPNs come with exclusive features that target malware. One such feature is the relatively popular CyberSec from NordVPN. It is an adware and malware blocker that prevents users from accessing malware-infested sites. Thus, a VPN can also fight malware and viruses but is not as effective as an antivirus. But today, a VPN is much more sought after than an antivirus program.
Why? Because of applicability. Antivirus only offers a single service, while VPNs are versatile. They can do a little of everything, making them the best cybersecurity tool and are superior at prevention. They do not take action after the effect but incorporate defenses to work in advance. We will learn how a VPN can prevent viruses in the latter segment of the article.
Can a VPN prevent viruses?
To be technical about it — no, a VPN can not prevent viruses. But it doesn’t mean that the tech is utterly useless before one. However, before we elaborate, it is imperative to understand the functionality of a VPN and how it affects our digital well-being. At the same time, we have to know how malware targets us and what exactly is the threat we face. Today, malware is no longer passive in its spread. It is the work of hackers, and it gets deployed with a clear objective. Hence, the infection isn’t blind in its operation, but it selectively targets profitable avenues.
Similarly, the choice of injection is the infamous adware or phishing. Hackers intercept data traffic and mine valuable information, and they base their attacks on it. But with a VPN in play, the chances of a valuable leak are minuscule. Hence, it renders the whole operation moot from the get-go. Thus, instead of the traditional protection after the fact, VPNs root out any possibilities of such an event from the start. We know that it isn’t conventional virus prevention. However, it gets the job done and at the same time, offers other valuable assistance to the user. We are not belittling the value of antivirus, and we often recommend using one.
We also sincerely believe that the best way forward toward comprehensive digital well-being is an amalgamation of these two technologies. Many industry insiders also agree with this, as we have seen a positive trend in up-and-coming VPN services that find their roots in an antivirus company. Today, many antivirus giants have invested in the VPN sector and come up with their iteration of a VPN, recognizing the value of the combination of the two techs. In conclusion, a VPN isn’t antivirus, and it is foolish to expect it to work as one. However, this doesn’t negate the fact that it can, in its way, fight malware infestation.