For years, antivirus software was the go-to solution for staying safe online. But today, that mindset is dangerously outdated.

The Nature of Modern Threats Has Changed

Cyberattacks don’t work the way most people imagine. Hackers aren’t actively targeting individuals one by one anymore—it’s more like setting traps across the internet and waiting for someone to wander into them.

These traps include:

• Malvertising (ads that deliver malware)

• Fake download buttons

• Compromised websites

• Phishing links disguised as harmless content

And once you’ve clicked, the malware has already made its way into your system—before your antivirus even gets a chance to react.

Antivirus = Post-Infection Response

Most antivirus programs work by scanning for known signatures or patterns after files are already on your system. They’re not gatekeepers anymore—they’re cleanup crews. And they’re often late to the scene.

Malware evolves too quickly for signature databases to keep up, and many attacks are designed specifically to evade traditional scanners. You might think you’re protected, but in many cases, you’re just getting notified that something bad already happened.

The Real Front Line: Your Browser

If threats begin with bad links, shady scripts, and drive-by downloads, then the best protection is to stop those things before they ever reach your computer.

That’s why I recommend using browser-based defenses. Unlike antivirus, they operate at the source—your interaction with the web.

Two Tools That Actually Help:

• Ghostery: Blocks trackers, third-party scripts, and many forms of sketchy behavior before pages even finish loading.

• Malwarebytes Browser Guard: Stops malicious websites, phishing scams, and download traps in real-time, right in your browser.

These tools don’t wait until something’s infected your computer. They keep you from ever getting close to it in the first place.

But Some Tools Do Still Have a Role

Not all software in this category is useless. In fact, lightweight and purpose-built tools can be incredibly effective—especially for users who aren’t as tech-savvy.

For example, scam baiter Kitboga worked with a developer to create custom software designed to block common scammer techniques. In a Linus Tech Tips video, he talked about a tool that prevents remote access programs from running at all—stopping tech support scammers in their tracks.

These tools aren’t trying to catch viruses—they’re designed to protect people (like elderly family members) from being manipulated into running dangerous software in the first place. If the threat comes from a phone call, not a sketchy website, that kind of protection can make all the difference.