Are antimalware and antivirus the same thing?

In practice, yes — today both terms usually mean the same type of program, one that blocks viruses and other kinds of malicious software. The difference is historical: "antivirus" refers to viruses, the early threats, while "antimalware" refers to the broader notion of malware. What matters more than the name is whether the program scans files when they are opened, watches application behaviour and is centrally managed.

What software should be installed to block exploits, worms and Trojans?

Antimalware (anti-malware) software, that is, a modern antivirus program with real-time protection. NIST expects it, among other things, to scan files as they are downloaded, opened and executed, to watch the behaviour of email clients and browsers, and to identify attacker tools. In a company, antimalware is complemented by an EDR solution, which collects data on endpoint behaviour and lets an analyst investigate an alert and isolate a computer.

Antimalware - definition and Types

Antimalware - Definition

Antimalware — what is it? Antimalware is software designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software (malware) from computer systems. Malware includes viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, adware, ransomware, and other harmful programs that can damage computer systems, steal data, or disrupt normal device operation. Antimalware protects computers, servers, and networks from these threats, ensuring data security and system integrity.

How Does Antimalware Software Work?

Antimalware software works in several ways:

Scanning: Conducts regular system scans searching for known threats.
Real-time Detection: Monitors system activity and network traffic in real-time to detect and block malware.
Heuristic Analysis: Uses behavioral analysis techniques to detect unknown threats based on suspicious activities.
Database Updates: Regularly updates threat signature databases to ensure protection against the latest types of malware.
Threat Removal: After detecting a threat, antimalware removes or isolates the malware to prevent its further spread.

What Are the Types of Antimalware?

Antimalware software can be divided into several main types:

Antivirus: Focuses mainly on detecting and removing computer viruses.
Antispyware: Prevents and removes spyware that tracks and steals user information.
Antiransomware: Protects against ransomware that blocks access to systems or data, demanding ransom.
Antiadware: Removes adware that displays unwanted advertisements and can lead to malware infection.
Comprehensive Security Suites: Offer full protection against various types of threats, including firewall, privacy protection, parental controls, etc.

What Threats Does Antimalware Detect?

Antimalware software detects a wide range of threats, including:

Viruses: Programs that replicate and infect files.
Trojans: Programs masquerading as legitimate applications to gain unauthorized access to the system.
Worms: Self-replicating programs that spread through computer networks.
Spyware: Programs that track user activity and steal data.
Adware: Programs displaying unwanted advertisements that can lead to other threats.
Ransomware: Programs that block access to systems or data, demanding ransom for unlocking.
Rootkits: Malicious programs hiding in the system to avoid detection.

Why Is Antimalware Software Important?

Antimalware software is crucial for ensuring computer system security for several reasons:

Data Protection: Protects against data theft and loss.
Ensuring Business Continuity: Prevents disruptions in computer system operation.
Privacy Protection: Protects private information from unauthorized access.
Risk Reduction: Minimizes the risk of infections and cyberattacks.
Regulatory Compliance: Helps meet legal and regulatory requirements for data protection.

What Are the Best Practices for Antimalware?

Best practices for antimalware include:

Regular Updates: Keeping antimalware software and operating system up to date.
System Scanning: Regularly conducting full system scans.
Real-time Monitoring: Activating real-time monitoring to immediately detect threats.
User Education: Training users on recognizing potential threats and safe online practices.
Safe Downloads: Avoiding downloading software from unknown sources.

What Are the Differences Between Antimalware and Antivirus?

While the terms “antivirus” and “antimalware” are often used interchangeably, there are some differences between them:

Protection Scope: Antivirus traditionally focuses on detecting and removing viruses, while antimalware covers a broader range of threats such as trojans, spyware, adware, ransomware, and others.
Detection Approach: Antivirus often relies on signatures of known viruses, while antimalware may use more advanced techniques such as heuristic analysis and behavioral monitoring.
Comprehensiveness: Modern antimalware solutions often include antivirus features, offering comprehensive protection against various types of malware.

Malwarebytes points out that today both terms are often used interchangeably: “antivirus” refers to viruses, the earliest threats, while “antimalware” refers to the broader notion of malicious software (malware).

How Does Antimalware Differ from EDR?

Antimalware is primarily meant to stop malicious code: NIST describes antivirus software as the most commonly used technical control, one that scans files as they are downloaded, opened or executed, watches the behaviour of applications such as email clients and browsers, identifies attacker tools, and disinfects, quarantines or deletes infected files.

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) assumes that some attacks will get through anyway. Microsoft describes EDR in Defender for Endpoint as continuous collection of data on a computer’s behaviour — processes, network activity, logins, registry and file changes — from which alerts are raised for an analyst to investigate, grouped into incidents, along with remediation actions such as isolating the device.

	Antimalware	EDR
Main task	block and remove malicious code	detect an attack in progress and enable a response
What it relies on	file scanning, signatures, watching application behaviour	data on the behaviour of the whole endpoint, alerts and incidents
Who makes the call	the program — automatically	a security analyst (some responses can be automatic)

In a company these tools complement each other: antimalware stops known and typical threats, EDR gives a chance to catch what got through. The difference is covered in more detail in the EDR entry.

How to Deploy Antimalware in a Company?

CIS Controls, in safeguard group 10 (“Malware Defenses”), sets the goal in these words: “Prevent or control the installation, spread, and execution of malicious applications, code, or scripts on enterprise assets.” NIST adds a few practical rules:

Wherever possible. Antimalware on every computer for which suitable software exists, installed as soon as possible after the operating system and updated straight away.
On computers and in the network. Scanning both on hosts and at the network level.
Central management. Software controlled and monitored centrally, so users cannot disable it or change critical settings.
Currency. Antimalware works best with up-to-date signatures and patches for the program itself.

A central console shows alerts, but someone has to read them. With a larger number of computers, the Managed EDR/XDR service takes over that load: the nFlo team analyses endpoint alerts, runs threat hunting and isolates compromised computers.

How to Choose the Right Antimalware Software?

When choosing the right antimalware software, consider several key factors:

Detection Effectiveness: High effectiveness in detecting and removing various types of threats.
Updates: Frequent threat database updates.
Additional Features: Presence of features such as real-time protection, firewall, privacy protection, etc.
Performance: Minimal impact on system performance.
User Reviews: Positive reviews and recommendations from other users.

How Often Should Antimalware Be Updated?

Antimalware software should be updated regularly, preferably daily, to ensure protection against the latest threats. Automatic updates are recommended to ensure that the threat database and software are always current. Additionally, regular system scanning and real-time monitoring should be active to ensure full protection.

Explore our services

Penetration testing

Antimalware