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But do all endpoint security products now include next-generation anti-virus?
Cyber security protection has evolved and so, top-tier anti-virus solutions are undeniably ‘next-generation’. This term was introduced nearly a decade ago by newcomers to the industry: a marketing device designed to compete with almost unassailable anti-malware brands.
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“Stop using that tired old anti-virus and try the new, improved approach! No more mistakes. No updates. Full protection!” Problem solved. Except in 2024, I don’t think anyone would claim that malware is a thing of the past.
The industry has shifted to a point where the leading vendors have embraced advanced technologies to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats. Traditional anti-virus relies solely (or mostly) on signature-based detection. That’s not enough to defend against modern-day attacks like ransomware, file-less malware and zero-day exploits.
Next-generation is Now
Next-generation anti-virus is now the benchmark for the best security solutions. These systems go far beyond the old-fashioned model of looking for known malware signatures. Instead, they use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and behavioural analysis to monitor how programs and processes behave in real-time.
This allows them to detect threats that have never been seen before, stopping malware based on its behaviour, not just its appearance.
These solutions can identify and block malicious activity at multiple stages of an attack, whether it’s during initial infiltration, lateral movement within the network or data exfiltration.
Today’s anti-malware technology is definitely better than it was, but it’s not quite what was promised. All products still download chunky updates from the internet. Nothing can claim 100 percent protection with any credibility. And, if the problem of malware has been solved, why do large companies keep changing the products they use?
Tomorrow’s World
All of the best endpoint protection products include the features that were once considered as ‘next-generation’. It’s why they all do well in the test you’re reading, because we use real, new threats.
The products tested here don’t rely solely on detecting known threats. They can determine an unknown threat from its behaviour and other similarities to known threats. When you dig into the details, check out the targeted attack results. These are new, never-before-seen files, delivered in a realistic way to the target.
‘Next-generation’ sounds current, rather than tired and old. In fact, it sounds futuristic! But when does it become outdated? If next-gen anti-virus has been around for nearly 10 years, does that mean it’s next-gen anymore? What happens tomorrow? What do we call that?
