Exam Code: PDPF Practice exam 2023 by Killexams.com team
Privacy and Data Protection Foundation
EXIN Protection approach
Killexams : EXIN Protection approach - BingNews https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/PDPF Search results Killexams : EXIN Protection approach - BingNews https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/PDPF https://killexams.com/exam_list/EXIN Killexams : A Modern Approach to Data Protection No result found, try new keyword!Ever-evolving cybersecurity threats and infrastructure complexity can make it difficult for small IT teams to keep up. Managed services providers can help. Do your due diligence and research ... Tue, 08 Feb 2022 18:47:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.computerworld.com/ Killexams : Social Protection No result found, try new keyword!UNHCR is working with governments and international actors to implement an area-based approach promoting access to social protection programmes for displaced and host populations. UNHCR identifies ... Tue, 21 Dec 2021 13:10:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.unhcr.org/social-protection.html Killexams : What Is Overdraft Protection? How It Works and Do You Need It

What Is Overdraft Protection?

Overdraft protection is an optional service that prevents the rejection of charges to a bank account (primarily checks, ATM transactions, debit-card charges) that are in excess of the available funds in the account. Overdraft protection, sometimes called cash-reserve checking, is used most frequently as a cushion for checking accounts, but it also can be applied to savings accounts.

With overdraft protection, even if the account has insufficient funds, the bank will cover the shortfall so that the transaction goes through. When a customer signs up for overdraft protection, they designate a backup account for the bank to use as the source to cover any overdrafts—usually a linked savings account, credit card, or line of credit. However, the bank charges the customer for this service in a few ways, e.g., overdraft fees to process any transactions that overdraw the account.

Key Takeaways

  • Overdraft protection is a ensure that a check, ATM, wire transfer, or debit card transaction will clear if the account balance falls below zero.
  • There may be heavy fees and interest associated with overdraft protection, depending on the kind of linked account used.
  • Overdraft protection lines of credit can range from $250 to $5,000 and above.

How Overdraft Protection Works

Without overdraft protection, transactions that have insufficient funds to cover them are returned unpaid—that is, checks bounce and debit transactions are refused, which can be expensive and disruptive for the customer. Most banks charge hefty overdraft and non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees (between $30 and $35, per transaction, on average) for accounts that do not have sufficient funds. What's more, not only can the bank refuse payment and charge the account holder, but a penalty or fee may also be charged by the merchant for the failed transaction.

To avoid overdraft and NSF fees, customers who choose overdraft protection link their checking accounts to credit cards, savings accounts, or other lines of credit that kick in whenever they withdraw more than the current balance. This amounts to an automatic, pre-approved loan or transfer every time the customer with insufficient funds writes a check, makes a wire transfer, swipes a debit card, or asks an ATM for a sum in excess of the balance.

As soon as the overdraft protection service is triggered, the linked account is charged a transfer fee to move funds to cover the shortfall. The account holder may also be charged either an additional fee every month that overdraft protection is used or a fixed monthly fee for continuous protection.

Bounced Check Penalties

If you bounce a check, you can incur a variety of charges or, in extreme cases, your bank can close your account, which also impacts your ability to open a new checking account.

Example of Overdraft Protection

If a renter with overdraft protection writes an $800 check on an account with a balance of $650, the overdraft protection from their linked account kicks in as soon as the check is cashed—and the check clears instead of bouncing due to insufficient funds.

The bank charges a transfer fee of $15 for approving a transaction that exceeds available funds. The renter will now have a balance of $635 ($650 - $15) in the account as well as a charge of $800 to pay off on the linked credit card, line of credit, or savings account.

Multiple Overdraft or NSF Fees

In the absence of overdraft protection, it is not uncommon for banks to charge multiple overdraft or NSF fees per day. For example, a consumer might make successive purchases without realizing that the amount in their account is insufficient to cover the charges. If a checking account goes negative for more than a few days, many banks also charge an extended overdraft fee. It’s important to note that—even if you have overdraft protection—banks can still charge this additional fee.

Special Considerations

Lines of credit for overdraft protection can range from $250 to $5,000 and above—and, of course, customers incur interest charges and transaction fees for using these lines.

If a credit card is used as the backup account, the amount is treated as a cash advance—which can be an expensive form of overdraft protection. Not only do cash advances have no grace period, but they also have high interest rates and high fees (usually $10 flat fees or 5% of the advance, whichever is greater).

A linked savings account is probably the least expensive backup account for overdraft protection, but the backup must hold enough money to cover the shortfall in the first account.

Trends in Overdraft Protection

Overdraft fees have always been among the most controversial bank fees. According to a BankRate.com survey of 245 banks and thrifts in 25 large U.S. markets, the average overdraft fee declined to a 13-year low of $29.80, which is down 11% over last year’s record high of $33.58.

In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, public debate accelerated a trend toward eliminating overdraft fees altogether. For example, the U.S. Senate held hearings on how and why banks charge fees for insufficient funds and criticized bank CEOs for refusing to halt overdraft fees during the pandemic.

More evidence of this trend includes a 2022 American Banker report that—as big banks made headlines for reducing or eliminating overdraft fees—even credit unions felt pressure from regulators and digital bank competitors to do the same.

Is There a Limit on Overdraft Fees?

Federal laws do not specify maximums that banks can charge for overdrafts, but banks are required to disclose any fees when the account is established—and they are required to supply customers advance notice of any fee increase.

Can Banks Refuse to Cover Overdrafts?

Banks are not required to offer overdraft protection, and—even when they do and a customer opts in—they retain the right to pay or not pay a particular overdraft transaction that might fall outside the rules of the agreement.

Is Overdraft Protection Mandatory?

Overdraft protection is optional; it is only the service that is automatic for bank customers who choose to opt in for overdraft protection on their checking or savings accounts.

 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 13:11:00 -0500 en text/html https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/overdraft-protection.asp Killexams : Privacy and Protection: A children’s rights approach to encryption

A new report, co-published by CRIN and defenddigitalme, aims to capture the full complexity of how encryption affects children’s lives. It sets out principles for an approach to encryption that recognises and respects the full range of their rights.

This statement was originally published on home.crin.org on 19 January 2023.

A new report, co-published by CRIN and defenddigitalme aims to capture the full complexity of how encryption affects children’s lives. It sets out principles for an approach to encryption that recognises and respects the full range of their rights.

Encryption is everywhere, for children as for adults. It plays an essential role in securing communications throughout children’s lives, from everyday visits to websites to using health services.

A debate is currently underway regarding encryption and public safety, with a focus on the fight against online child sexual exploitation and abuse. This discussion is often experienced as a divide between a child protection approach and a civil liberties focus. This report, co-published by CRIN and defenddigitalme is a response to this divide, based on a recognition of the full complexity of how encryption affects children’s lives. Its aim is to set out principles for an approach to encryption that recognises and respects the full range of their rights.

How did we get here?

The development of encryption, and the debates that surround it, have a long history and are intertwined with the technological developments of the past 50 years. The report begins by placing this debate in its historical context, from the “crypto-wars” since the 1970s to the challenges of today, and explores the relevant technology, including tools used to identify online child sexual abuse material. We aim to be clear about the uses, functions, benefits, costs and compromises of this technology, so that its role and impact on children’s rights can be assessed.

Moving beyond polarisation

“Despite the common narrative of polarisation in discussions about encryption, we found there is much more that unites those involved than divides them. The most striking difference is the understanding of the limitations of what technology can deliver today on the part of technologists and digital rights advocates, compared with the high hopes of many child protection specialists.”

~ Jen Persson, Director of defenddigitalme

Current discussions on encryption involve a range of actors, from policy-makers and law enforcement, to civil society, academia, social media, and established industry bodies and businesses, as well as emerging companies in the child safety market. Many different perspectives are involved, from child protection, privacy and data protection, to technology, Internet regulation, and politics. Moving beyond the current divides requires an understanding of the various approaches and priorities of those working in this space.

Interviews, questionnaires, and conversations with these professionals were at the heart of our research. Building on these, the report represents and examines a variety of perspectives on Topics ranging from the pressing need to address online child sexual abuse and to include survivors’ voices, to the role, possibilities and limitations of technology and regulation, as well as the call to think beyond the dominant Anglo- and Euro-centric approaches. The report identifies frictions and faultlines but also where there is space for consensus, with the aim of improving the transparency of the discussion, agreeing on what is already settled, and moving the conversation forward.

Children’s rights are on all sides of the discourse

The polarisation of “privacy versus protection” masks a complex picture. Encryption engages nearly all of children’s rights from a wide variety of angles. Applications of encryption can protect or expose children to violence, promote or undermine their privacy, encourage or chill their expression.

The report explores how encryption affects the full spectrum of children’s rights, treating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as an agreed international foundation. It examines how the Convention applies to children who are affected by or use technology that involves encryption by setting out both the benefits and the risks that encryption may pose to the realisation of children’s rights.

The report also argues that a children’s rights approach to the debate must recognise that children are a diverse group and the impact of encryption can vary significantly depending on their backgrounds, needs and identities. Children can be affected by encryption in both public and private settings and in a variety of contexts, including where they belong to disadvantaged or marginalised groups. The report therefore suggests scenarios to open up the discussion beyond the paradigm of privacy versus protection, giving examples of the breadth and complexity of ethical, legal and practical issues at stake.

“The debate about encryption cannot be a question of privacy versus protection – children have a right to both. The challenge lies in how to secure the full range of children’s rights in this space, both in terms of how the debate is held and the outcomes we want to achieve.”

~ Leo Ratledge, Co-Director of CRIN

What would a children’s rights approach to encryption look like?

Applying children’s rights to the terms of the current debate, Privacy and Protection sets out ten principles for a children’s rights approach to encryption.

The approach to the issue is important as well as the outcome, so the first five of these principles address how the issue should be framed and deal with questions of process. We argue that:

  • Actions affecting the digital environment must respect the full range of children’s rights, from protection from violence to privacy and freedom of expression.

  • No single law, policy or technology can protect children online or secure their human rights more broadly. Interventions engaging encryption must be seen within a wider ecosystem with many actors.

  • All those with relevant expertise must be involved in discussions and decision-making regarding children and the digital environment, including on encryption.

  • Children and other directly affected communities, for example survivors of child sexual abuse or those disproportionately affected by intrusive data practices, must be heard and their views given due weight.

  • The digital environment is interconnected and regulation in one jurisdiction is very likely to cause ripple effects in others, therefore policy-makers engaging with encryption must address the impact beyond their own jurisdiction.

The latter five principles deal with the substance of policy-making around encryption. We argue that:

  • There should be no generalised ban on encryption for children.

  • Interventions engaging encryption must consider and address specific political, economic, social and cultural contexts.

  • Restrictions on qualified children’s rights such as privacy must be necessary and proportionate. They should be sufficiently clear and precise, limited to achieving a legitimate goal and the least intrusive way of doing so.

  • Policy-making should address the role of business, including by requiring more transparency around how platforms prevent and remedy violations of children’s rights.

  • Children must have access to justice for all violations of their full range of rights in the digital environment, including where encryption is engaged.

Moving the debate forward

We are at a point where policy-making will shape how children engage with the digital environment for decades to come. It is essential that discussions and interventions related to encryption are grounded in the full range of expertise in technology and the law, and that they respect all children’s rights.

We hope that this report contributes to a better understanding of the terms of the debate and how the use of encryption engages children’s rights, and that the principles provide a useful framework for richer and more transparent discussions that value both privacy and protection.

This report is produced for a joint project between CRIN and defenddigitalme exploring a children’s rights approach to encryption.

Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated and follow the project on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram at #PrivacyAndProtection

 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0600 en-US text/html https://ifex.org/privacy-and-protection-a-childrens-rights-approach-to-encryption/ Killexams : The Best Antivirus Software for 2023

The idea of a computer virus—a self-replicating program—was once seen as a novelty. Individuals wrote viruses to show off their skillz, impress their significant others, or advertise their businesses. These days, though, writing viruses, Trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware is just another corporate job, albeit an illegal one. The point is to make money, whether by selling stolen personal information, stealing from financial accounts, or just demanding a ransom. Malware coders are even using AI to streamline their work. Don’t be a victim. Make sure all your devices have antivirus software installed, and check that they’re active and up to date.

But which antivirus should you choose? There are so many! We’ve reviewed more than 40 antivirus utilities so you can easily select one that fits your needs. We've gathered the top 10 tested products here, along with what to look for when selecting the right antivirus for you, which you can find after the listings below.

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus

Best Overall Antivirus

Why We Picked It

You can buy an antivirus utility that does everything an antivirus should, or you can buy one that does more—way more. That would be Bitdefender Antivirus Plus. The Plus in this case represents a multitude of features. Ransomware protection, a hardened browser for your financial transactions, VPN protection for your connections, a feature that smacks down ad trackers, automatic detection of missing security patches, a simple password manager…the list goes on. While its name says antivirus, this product's feature list beats many security suites.

Not only that, but it’s also a good antivirus. The independent testing labs routinely grant it perfect or near-perfect scores, and it aces many of our hands-on tests. Its ransomware-specific defense system proved itself in testing, too. And its Autopilot feature means that all this happens with minimum bother for you, the user.

Oh, there are a few minor nits. The password manager doesn’t have all the fanciest features, for example. And if you want unlimited use of the VPN, you must pay a bit extra. But, overall, this is a marvelous choice for antivirus protection.

Who It’s For

If you want maximal antivirus protection with minimal interaction, just fire up Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and turn on its Autopilot. Now you can sit back and do, well, anything you want!

PROS

  • Outstanding scores in independent lab tests and our phishing protection tests
  • Multi-layered ransomware protection
  • Isolated browser for banking safety
  • Active Do Not Track
  • Offers a VPN
  • Many security-centered bonus features

CONS

  • Unlimited VPN access requires separate subscription
  • Remarkably slow first full scan

McAfee AntiVirus Plus

Best for Multi-Device Households

Why We Picked It

Installing antivirus protection on your main production computer is a good thing. Extending that protection to all your other devices is even better. With McAfee AntiVirus Plus, one subscription lets you install security software on every Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS device in your household. When all your devices are armored against attack, the whole network benefits.

McAfee gets plenty of high scores from the independent labs, though there are occasional slips. Its scores in our own hands-on tests are simply dazzling. And it goes beyond basic antivirus protection, with Ransom Guard, a simple firewall, a system to foil cryptojacking, and more.

Who It’s For

How many computing devices are there in your household? If you lost count, if you couldn’t begin to say how many, McAfee AntiVirus Plus is just the antivirus you need. You can use any protected device to extend an installation invitation to any unprotected device, until your whole network is wrapped in protection.

PROS

  • Security for all your Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, and iOS devices
  • Excellent scores in our hands-on tests
  • Virus protection pledge
  • Protection Center encourages improving security

CONS

  • Antivirus missed one modified ransomware sample
  • Several long-standing features slated for removal
  • Very slow full scan on Windows
  • Protection Center not fully functional without suite-level features
  • Mac edition lacks many features found under Windows

ESET NOD32 Antivirus

Best for Techies

Why We Picked It

When you see ESET’s blue-eyed cyborg mascot gazing serenely from the screen of ESET NOD32 Antivirus, you just know you’ve got some high-tech protection. It hits top scores in some independent lab tests and some of our own tests—we always like to see both. And ESET goes beyond many competitors with unusual high-tech features like its UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) scan, a cut above the more common boot sector scan. It even looks for intrusions in the WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) database.

Yes, you need some technical expertise to understand and make use of these high-tech features. The same is true of the Host Intrusion Prevention System (HIPS), which aims to detect and block attacks that try to leverage vulnerabilities in the operating system or in popular programs. As for the Device Control system, it’s a techie’s dream. You can exert total control on all types of external devices, or on individual devices. For example, you could ban the use of USB drives, so the kids don’t bring home malware with their homework, but specifically allow use of devices you’ve vetted yourself. At the device or type level, you can block all use, force read-only access, or just display a warning.

Who It’s For

Some antivirus tools do their best to work in the background with no technical involvement by the user. That’s not ESET NOD32 Antivirus. This product is great for those who want to get their hands dirty, taking an active role in security protection. If you have the knowledge and skills to use them, ESET has the features for you.

PROS

  • Some excellent scores from independent labs
  • Some good scores in our hands-on tests
  • HIPS component blocks exploits
  • Comprehensive device control

CONS

  • Poor score in our hands-on malware blocking test
  • Device control too complex for most users
  • Ransomware protection not effective in testing

G Data Antivirus

Best Breadth of Features

Why We Picked It

The G Data website states that G Data released the first antivirus program in 1985. Whether or not it was the very first, G Data Antivirus has a long and storied history. Two of the four independent labs we follow supply the nod to this venerable tool in their latest tests. AV-Test gives it the top possible rating, while its scores in tests by AV-Comparatives range from passing to perfect. In our hands-on malware protection and malicious get defense tests, G Data scored very near the maximum.

Over the course of its evolution, this antivirus tool has picked up quite a few bonus security tools. With the regular antivirus disabled, its behavior-based ransomware protection layers detected half the samples we threw at it. An exploit detection component scored better than most competitors in testing. Other bonus features include spam filtering, BankGuard protection for financial transaction, active defense against keyloggers, and fine-grained control over startup programs.

Who It’s For

Some folks lean toward the newest, shiniest antivirus protection, while others prefer a mature product that’s had plenty of time to shake out any weaknesses. G Data Antivirus is definitely full-grown, and includes quite a few security bonuses. It’s just thing for those seeking a well-aged antivirus tool.

PROS

  • Excellent score in our hands-on malware protection test
  • Protects against banking Trojans, keyloggers, ransomware, and exploits
  • Includes spam filter

CONS

  • Mixed scores in independent lab tests

Malwarebytes Premium

Best for Speedy Scans

Why We Picked It

For years, the cleanup-only Malwarebytes Free has been the go-to solution when your regular antivirus can’t do the job, but it was always a specialty tool, not for everyday use. Malwarebytes Premium, on the other hand, offers all the features you expect in a full-scale antivirus, starting with scanning on demand, on schedule, and on file access. Its full scan is speedy, and it uses a variety of techniques for real-time protection, including behavior-based detection, ransomware activity detection, and protection against exploit attacks.

It’s true that lab results for Malwarebytes are mixed, some great, some so-so. The company contends that its advanced detection techniques aren’t a perfect fit for standardized tests. In our own hands-on tests, it proved highly effective, earning a rare 10 of 10 points for malware protection and excellent scores for defending against malicious and fraudulent web pages.

Who It’s For

Anyone who’s used Malwarebytes Free to remedy another antivirus tool’s slip-up will appreciate the full-powered Malwarebytes Premium. Even if you never needed that kind of rescue, this product’s speedy scan and excellent hands-on test results are a big draw.

PROS

  • Maximum possible score in our hands-on malware protection test
  • Excellent scores in phishing and malicious URL blocking tests
  • Speedy full scan
  • Includes exploit protection, ransomware protection, behavior-based detection
  • More independent lab test results

Norton AntiVirus Plus

Best for Single-Desktop Protection

Why We Picked It

Quick, name three antivirus companies. Was one of them Norton? Probably. Norton’s antivirus prowess has developed over decades, and Norton AntiVirus Plus is the pinnacle of that evolution. All the testing labs we follow report on Norton’s capabilities, and it gets plenty of perfect scores. Norton also aces our hands-on tests, including a test using a dozen real-world ransomware samples.

There’s more to this product than just antivirus, too. Its firewall protects against both outside attacks and betrayal from within, without bombarding the unsuspecting user with confusing popup queries. A separate module enhances firewall protection by detecting and blocking exploit attacks. Other bonus features include a backup system that can archive your files locally or in the provided online storage, a spam filter for those who still need such a thing, a new software updater tool, and more.

The one thing you don’t get with Norton is multi-device protection. This antivirus is strictly for Windows, and it’s a single-license product, with no volume discounts. If you need more Norton, try the company’s suite products.

Who It’s For

Not everyone needs to protect a houseful of devices. Some of us are happy with a single, powerful computer, protected by a single, powerful antivirus. Is that you? If so, Norton AntiVirus Plus is just what you need.

PROS

  • Excellent scores in independent lab tests and our hands-on tests
  • Data Protector foils ransomware attacks
  • New Software Updater
  • Enhanced My Norton Dashboard
  • Online backup enabled out of the box
  • Includes many bonus security features

CONS

  • Expensive
  • No multi-license pricing
  • Rare poor score in phishing test

Sophos Home Premium

Best for Thrifty Users

Why We Picked It

Sophos is a big name in business-level antivirus, with remote management to keep the IT team in charge of security. Sophos Home Premium brings that same remote management to you, the consumer. You can install antivirus protection for your family and friends, whether they’re across town or across the country, and manage all the installations without leaving your lair. Best of all, it’s seriously inexpensive, with a 10-license price that matches what many competitors charge for just three licenses.

This antivirus only has one latest lab test score, but it’s a good one—AAA certification from SE Labs. In our hands-on malware protection test it managed 100% detection and scored 9.9 of 10 possible points. It also earned 100% for defending against malware-hosting web pages. But its protection doesn’t stop there. Packed in its tiny local agent program are effective ransomware protection, defense against exploit attacks, an admittedly less-effective parental control content filter, protection for your financial transactions, webcam hijack prevention, and more.

As noted, you can manage all your installations from a convenient online console. More recently, Sophos has extended that remote control ability to apps for Android and iOS, meaning you can exercise your remote control powers from anywhere.

Who It’s For

Are you the default security expert for your extended family or circle of friends? Are you tired of driving across town to rescue your beloved uncle after he clicked something he shouldn’t have? With Sophos Home Premium you can take good care of your peeps from wherever you happen to be.

PROS

  • Excellent scores in some hands-on tests
  • Convenient mobile management app
  • Protects against ransomware, keyloggers, exploits
  • Remotely manages up to 10 PCs or Macs
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Limited results from testing labs
  • Parental control and webcam protection limited
  • So-so phishing test score
  • Advanced features require uncommon tech expertise

F-Secure Anti-Virus

Best for No-Frills Protection

Why We Picked It

Sometimes you feel like a suite, sometimes you don’t. F-Secure Anti-Virus sticks to the essential tasks of an antivirus: scanning for malware on demand, on schedule, and on file access. An F-Secure full scan is speedy, a re-scan even speedier, and it has a new people-oriented user interface. As a bonus, the typical price for one antivirus license gets you an F-Secure threefer.

When we last reviewed it, F-Secure had test results from all four of the labs we follow, and an aggregate labs score of 9.1 points (with 10 points the maximum). Only two of the latest reports include F-Secure, but it got a perfect score from AV-Test and passed a grueling test by MRG-Effitas, for an aggregate score of 9.9. A network-level filter blocks access to dangerous malware-hosting websites, though it doesn’t attempt detection of phishing frauds. And the antivirus took a decent score in our hands-on malware protection test.

Who It’s For

If you want an inexpensive, speedy antivirus tool that does its job without a lot of fuss, F-Secure Anti-Virus is for you.

PROS

  • Excellent lab test scores
  • Good scores in our hands-on tests
  • Detects brand-new malware, including ransomware
  • New, cheerful interface
  • Inexpensive

CONS

  • Behavioral detection missed some ransomware samples
  • No phishing protection

Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security

Best for Single-PC Protection

Why We Picked It

Though it originated in Los Angeles, Trend Micro is now a global security corporation based in Japan, one that’s acquired many other security businesses over the years. Its collective technology makes Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security more than just an antivirus. Among other components, Trend Micro features: Pay Guard to protect your financial transactions; a Firewall Booster; spam filtering with a separate Fraud Buster component; multi-layered ransomware protection; a detector for unauthorized cryptocurrency mining; and markup of dangerous links in search results and social media.

But does it work? AV-Test’s latest report gives Trend Micro a perfect score, and past evaluations by SE Labs certified it at the top AAA level. It failed one of three tests from AV-Comparatives, though. And it also failed two admittedly difficult tests by MRG-Effitas. On the plus side, it earned perfect scores in our tests of defense against malicious and fraudulent websites.

Like Norton, this is a single-device product, with no volume discounts. If you want a multi-device license from Trend Micro you’ll have to opt for one of its suite products.

Who It’s For

Don’t turn to Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security to protect a house full of computing devices. That’s not what it’s for. Rather, install it on that one essential computer where you spend your work and play time.

PROS

  • Perfect score in our antiphishing test
  • Perfect score against malware-hosting pages
  • Layered ransomware protection
  • Multifaceted browser extension
  • Many bonus features

CONS

  • Tanked our hands-on malware protection test
  • Some failures in independent lab tests
  • Social network protection choices dated
  • No multi-device volume licensing

Compare SpecsThe Best Antivirus Software for 2023

Buying Guide: The Best Antivirus Software for 2023

Where Did Kaspersky Go?

Kaspersky Anti-Virus has topped the antivirus lab testing charts for many years, garnering perfect scores, or at least near-perfect. It has also held PCMag's Editors' Choice honor for countless years. It's both attractive and effective. And it no longer appears in our list of best antivirus products. Here's why.

For years, Kaspersky has faced accusations and censure based on its Russian origins, though none of the accusations have come backed by hard evidence of malicious behavior. We at PCMag focused on the capabilities of the products, not on the brouhaha around the company. However, the current war in Ukraine has raised the stakes. Governments and third parties are cutting ties with Kaspersky. The FCC labeled Kaspersky a national security risk.

After consideration, we can no longer recommend you purchase Kaspersky security products. We've left the reviews in place, with a warning, since they provide useful information. But at least for now, we're removing Kaspersky products from our "Best of" lists.

What Are Viruses, Malware, and Ransomware?

We call it antivirus, but in truth it's unlikely you'll get hit with an actual computer virus. Malware these days is about making money, and there's no easy way to cash in on spreading a virus. Ransomware and data-stealing Trojans are much more common, as are bots that let the bot-herder rent out your computer for nefarious purposes. Modern antivirus utilities handle Trojans, rootkits, spyware, adware, ransomware, and more. As noted, PCMag has reviewed more than 40 different commercial antivirus utilities, and that's not even counting the many free antivirus tools. Out of that extensive field we've named several Editors' Choice products and honored others with a four-star rating. If you have malware, one of the products listed in this article should take care of the problem.

These commercial products offer protection beyond the antivirus built into Windows; the best free antivirus utilities also offer more than Windows does. However, Microsoft Windows Defender Security Center is looking better and better lately, with some good scores from independent testing labs. The combination of good lab scores and a great score in our hands-on malware protection test was enough to bring it up to 3.5 stars. It doesn't appear in this roundup of commercial antivirus products, naturally.

We Listen to the Antivirus Testing Labs

We take the results reported by independent antivirus testing labs seriously. The simple fact that a company's product shows up in the results is a vote of confidence, of sorts. It means the lab considered the product significant, and the company felt the cost of testing was worthwhile. Of course, high scores in the tests are also important.

We follow four labs that regularly release detailed reports: SE Labs, AV-Test Institute(Opens in a new window), MRG-Effitas, and AV-Comparatives. We've devised a system for aggregating their results to yield a rating from 0 to 10.

How We Test Malware, Spyware, and Adware Defenses

We also subject every product to our own hands-on test of malware protection, in part to get a feeling for how the product works. Depending on how thoroughly the product prevents malware installation, it can earn up to 10 points for malware protection.

Our malware protection test necessarily uses the same set of samples for months. To check a product's handling of brand-new malware, we test each product using a large collection of extremely new malware-hosting URLs supplied by MRG-Effitas(Opens in a new window), noting what percentage of them it blocked. Products get equal credit for preventing all access to the malicious URL and for wiping out the malware during download.

Some products earn stellar ratings from the independent labs, yet don't fare as well in our hands-on tests. In such cases, we defer to the labs, as they bring significantly greater resources to their testing. Want to know more? You can dig in for a detailed description of how we test security software.

What's the Best Antivirus for Malware Protection?

Antivirus products distinguish themselves by going beyond the basics of on-demand scanning and real-time malware protection. Some rate URLs that you visit or that show up in search results, using a red-yellow-green color-coding system. Some actively block processes on your system from connecting with known malware-hosting URLs or with fraudulent (phishing) pages.

Software has flaws, and sometimes those flaws affect your security. Prudent users keep Windows and all programs patched, fixing those flaws as soon as possible. The vulnerability scan offered by some antivirus products can verify all necessary patches are present, and even apply any that are missing.

Spyware comes in many forms, from hidden programs that log your every keystroke to Trojans masquerading as valid programs while mining your personal data. Any antivirus should handle spyware, along with all other types of malware, but some include specialized components devoted to spyware protection.

You expect an antivirus to identify and eliminate bad programs, and to leave good programs alone. What about unknowns, programs it can't identify as good or bad? Behavior-based detection can, in theory, protect you against malware so new researchers have never encountered it. However, this isn't always an unmixed blessing. It's not uncommon for behavioral detection systems to flag many innocuous behaviors performed by legitimate programs.

Allow-listing is another approach to the problem of unknown programs. This type of security system only allows known good programs to run. Unknowns are banned. This mode doesn't suit all situations, but it can be useful. Sandboxing lets unknown programs run, but it isolates them from full access to your system, so they can't do permanent harm. These various added layers serve to enhance your protection against malware.

What's the Best Antivirus for Ransomware Protection and Firewalls?

Firewalls and spam filtering aren't common antivirus features, but some of our top products include them as bonuses. In fact, some of these antivirus products are more feature-packed than certain products sold as security suites.

Among the other bonus features you'll find are secure browsers for financial transactions, secure deletion of sensitive files, wiping traces of computer and browsing history, credit monitoring, virtual keyboard to foil keyloggers, cross-platform protection, and more. And of course, we've already mentioned sandboxing, vulnerability scanning, and application whitelisting.

We're seeing more and more antivirus products adding modules specifically designed for ransomware protection. Some work by preventing unauthorized changes to protected files. Others keep watch for suspicious behaviors that suggest malware. Some even aim to reverse the damage. Given the growth of this scourge, any added protection is beneficial.

Beyond Antivirus: Install a VPN

Your antivirus utility works in the background to keep out any faint possibility of infestation by malware, but its abilities don't extend beyond the bounds of your computer. When you connect to the wild and wooly internet, you risk the possibility your data could be compromised in transit. Sticking to HTTPS websites when possible can help, but for full protection of your data in transit you should install a Virtual Private Network, or VPN. This component is important enough that we're starting to see it as a bonus feature in some antivirus tools.

What Is the Best Antivirus?

Which antivirus should you choose? You have a wealth of options. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus routinely takes perfect or near-perfect scores from the independent antivirus testing labs, and it has more features than some security suites. A single subscription for McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you install protection on all your Windows, Android, Mac OS, and iOS devices. Its unusual behavior-based detection technology means Webroot SecureAnywhere Antivirus is the tiniest antivirus around. We've named these three Editors' Choice for commercial antivirus, but they're not the only products worth consideration. Read the reviews of our top-rated products, and then make your own decision.

 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 19:12:00 -0500 en text/html https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-antivirus-protection?test_uuid=05n7gTzbSo0Sh5pVEDljnCi&test_variant=b Killexams : Online training in radiation protection

This course available in English, Russian and Spanish provides continuing safety and quality education to radiotherapy professionals. Participants Excellerate their understanding of safety in radiotherapy, learn techniques to reduce and avoid radiotherapy incidents and understand the value and use of incident learning systems.

The course aims to help participants:

  • Improve their understanding of safety in radiotherapy;
  • Learn techniques to reduce and avoid radiotherapy incidents;
  • Understand the value and use of incident learning systems;
  • Learn about useful sources of information to enhance safety in radiotherapy;
  • Gain insight into improving safety culture in medical clinics/facilities;
  • The course is organized into twelve modules, each with a short quiz at the end. These quizzes serve as a self-check for participants to review their own understanding of the material.

The course covers major incidents in radiotherapy, learning and reporting incidents, process maps, severity metrics, basic causes and safety barriers, failure modes and effects analysis, fault tree analysis, and safety culture.

Each of the course’s 12 modules includes  a short quiz to help participants review their  understanding of the material.

The course is estimated to take five hours to complete. Participants who wish to do so can receive a certificate of completion. 
 

 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 18:47:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.iaea.org/resources/rpop/resources/online-training-in-radiation-protection Killexams : A New Approach to Branding Blockchains No result found, try new keyword!However, there is an emerging category of blockchain-native projects that takes a different approach from previous decentralized finance (DeFi) companies. These projects are defined by their ... Thu, 19 Jan 2023 20:08:00 -0600 text/html https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/a-new-approach-to-branding-blockchains Killexams : Long-Term Investments Require a New Approach

Ongoing market volatility has left many investors grasping for an investment lifeline to help them stay afloat amidst stormy economic conditions. Conventional approaches to long-term investments follow the 60/40 model (opens in new tab), which allocates 60% of your portfolio to stocks and 40% to bonds. But that strategy may no longer produce your desired results, as both asset classes have performed under their historical averages during the last two decades.

Bond yields historically had an inverse relationship with the stock market to help offset loss. But in 2022, inflation and other global economic factors caused both bonds and stocks to fall. Anyone relying on the 60/40 model is likely finding themselves in deep water. Modern market conditions require a fresh approach to long-term investing in order to properly protect your retirement savings.

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