A lot of IT specialists nowadays have their hands full with malware detection and device cleanup. What they usually find is that each computer is riddled with infections, many of whom are posing as fake antispyware or antivirus programs. Some are so severe that they’ve escalated to the ransomware level.
Users complain about the same thing; their antivirus software sucks at malware detection and thus, protecting their device from attack. The sad truth is that there is some truth to that statement. Almost every antivirus available has some holes in its ability to spot malware and it will make a few missteps.
That’s because most professional malware designers use cutting-edge botnet ecosystems that enable the malware to automatically update itself whenever it has been detected. So, while an antivirus software might be able to find numerous types of malware, they’re always somewhat behind when it comes to detecting the latest ones.
A lot of the viruses out there are incredibly stealthy and difficult to identify. That’s why malware detection accuracy rates keep fluctuating depending on what time of the year it is and how new the antivirus software update is.
What You Should Do
The good news is that there is a way to achieve maximum malware detection. The first step, of course, is to install a powerful and reliable antivirus product. Look out for prestigious antivirus companies that have been around for a long time and have a positive track record. Next, make use of Windows Autoruns or Sysinternals Process Explorer to analyze VirusTotal’s 67 antivirus engines. This is probably the closest you’ll get to truly accurate malware detection.
Here’s a step-by-step process to help you do this in a Windows computer:
- Connect your computer to the Internet through your home or personal network.
- Visit the Microsoft website Sysinternals.com.
- Download Autoruns and Process Explorer. They’re available free of charge, along with everything else on this website.
- Unzip the programs once you’ve downloaded them. Use procexp.exe for Process Explorer. However, use autoruns.exe if you’re using Autoruns as it’s the command-line version.
- Rick click using your mouse and operate the program executable as the Administrator. That way, you’re sure it’s operating in your capacity as Admin.
- Next, execute Process Explorer followed by Autoruns. Click on the Options menu.
- Select VirusTotal.com and check it.
- This will send running executables to the VirusTotal website. Google is responsible for this website so it’s safe. They’ll ask you to accept the license so click Yes. Close the VirusTotal website and return to Process Explorer.
- In process explorer, look out for the VirusTotal label followed by the words Hash Submitted, or it’ll have a ratio such as 0/67, 1/67/ 14/67 etc.
This ratio is to let you know how many other users have reported the submitted executable Hash as a malicious agent. This data is taken from about 67 reliable antivirus engines but this number fluctuates as well. you’ll notice that some executables are inspected by a larger number of engines than others. Either way, f the number above the line is higher than zero it means you have malware.
Not All Malwares Are the Same
It’s important to note here that no malware detection method is perfect. There are certain advanced types of malware that can evade even this type of detection, but it’s a very small number. Plus, there’s no telling what new advancements malware creators could come up with. But Autoruns and Process Explorer are usually ahead of the curve, hence their protection methods work most of the time.
The best way to avoid malware infections is to patch your software especially for things like browser add-in software and browser software. Also, refrain from installing dodgy or even legitimate-looking apps and programs that you don’t have much prior information about. Also, get into the habit of using two-factor authentication and use difficult passwords for different websites. Using these methods alone can go a long way in protecting you from malware.
A friendly recommendation is to try Defencebyte. The Defencebyte program is one of the best purchases you can make for the safety of your computer. We recommend you start with the most affordable plan as a trial and then see how it goes.
Did you find this article on malware detection helpful? Let us know in the comments below!
