Protect Your Computer and Smartphone as You Head Back to School

After a well-deserved vacation, reality takes us back to school, whether it’s elementary, high school, or university. Regardless of your academic level or that of your children, you’ll need to be prepared to face the cyber threats lurking while browsing the internet.

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These threats can strike whether you’re using a laptop for schoolwork or a smartphone to access the school’s website—no one is immune to becoming a target of hackers. That’s why it’s our responsibility to take preventive measures.

How can we take precautions in 2024? By being very careful while browsing and installing antivirus software. Yes, an antivirus in 2024 is more necessary than you might think. Although it may seem outdated, there are now thousands of times more threats than ever. You need an extra layer of protection.

Where human caution falls short, antivirus software comes to the rescue

We’ve all read and heard advice on how to avoid falling into hackers’ traps. We’re told to carefully check URLs, avoid opening suspicious emails, and not share personal data through unreliable channels.

However, all of this isn’t enough today. No matter how much you know about cybersecurity, in 2024, you need to have antivirus software installed on your computer and smartphone if you don’t want to be a potential victim.

Situations where you might need antivirus software on your computer and phone this school year

Firstly, when your kids connect to the school’s Wi-Fi. We often don’t realize that public Wi-Fi networks are exposed and easier to compromise. Hackers are always lurking, waiting for the chance to breach a public network’s security, which could give them access to hundreds or even thousands of potential victims.

This is where antivirus software comes in with its network scanning technology, allowing users to connect to unsecured networks without risk. Additionally, firewalls included in these programs monitor all network traffic between the device and the internet, blocking dangerous content.

Secondly, when browsing or sending emails. Let’s face it, our kids use the computer daily. They need to browse for school projects or send emails to classmates and teachers, which leaves them exposed.

Antivirus software typically includes tools that block websites if malicious code or malware is detected. It also blocks phishing links in emails and can safely scan potentially harmful email attachments before we click on them.

Thirdly, when downloading apps or games on computers and phones. Let’s be honest—our kids will download all sorts of apps, not just those needed for class.

Antivirus software like Avast Free Antivirus does a great job here as well, as its databases know which apps are safe and which developers are suspicious of creating malware. It can alert us before our children download something dangerous.

With all these advantages, and given how easy they are to install and use, anyone looking to protect their kids during back-to-school season should consider installing antivirus software on their devices, as well as those of their loved ones.

What free and easy-to-use antivirus options are available on the market?

One of the best free options on the market is Avast Free Antivirus, for several reasons. The first is obvious: Avast has been protecting computers and devices for over 30 years, safeguarding millions of people worldwide. It’s a company we can trust with our security and that of our loved ones.

Secondly, it’s free, making it accessible to everyone without needing to spend money, yet it doesn’t skimp on features. The free version is perfect for 99% of users looking for a good antivirus for themselves and their kids.

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As they explain, Avast has created user-friendly antivirus software with one of the largest threat detection networks in the industry. It offers machine learning-based antivirus protection and home network security that doesn’t slow down your Windows PC, Mac, or Android or iPhone devices.