Difference Between Antivirus and Firewall

In recent years, users have become highly aware of online internet safety or online safety. This rise in awareness for online safety is good as cybercriminals are always present and have formulated new ways to scam people and steal their data. Moreover, malware and viruses are developing every day and have become a huge problem and their consequences on businesses and people have become disastrous. To protect the customer’s data from these threats antivirus or firewall is necessary. Antivirus software is often known as a virus scanner. It is used for detecting viruses as well as quarantines them so that they cannot cause any damage anymore.  Similar to antivirus, a firewall is also installed to protect user data from viruses. 

Antivirus 

An antivirus is sometimes defined as a virus scanner that helps in detecting as well as quarantine viruses. If quarantined, these viruses can longer cause any damage to the computer and this software also provides the option of deleting these viruses. Sometimes the word antivirus is also used for referring to highly old-fashioned programs that mainly handle the traditional types of malware on the network or the computer. These specific types of viruses include computer worms, Trojans, etc. On the contrary, anti-malware programs can deal with different malware including spyware and adware. Hence, anti malware can be regarded as an evolved version of an antivirus program. Practically, the terms antimalware and antivirus are often used simultaneously. Most recent antivirus programs are also seen to stop different malware programs. In this regard, a virus scanner is important which scans the files on the computer for determining if viruses are present in any of them. 

Firewall 

A firewall can be defined as a program that separately protects an individual’s computer as compared to a virus scanner. As compared to virus scanners a firewall filters all the internet traffic long before it enters the computer or network. After that, it decides which internet traffic is safe for entering the network. The rules that are applied by different types of the firewall to determine this vary. Firewalls can contain software as well as hardware. A fairly good firewall will use both software and hardware. Software firewalls are sold separately. However many people use integrated firewalls. Software firewalls are built in the operating system or antivirus programs. Hardware firewalls can also be brought separately and usually resemble a flat rectangular box. 

Difference between antivirus and firewall

Both antivirus or antimalware and firewall are used for protecting user information or user computers from malicious viruses and Trojans. However, there is a significant difference between the two. Antivirus software also known as virus scanners or anti-malware as well as firewalls are both tools to safeguard devices or computers connected to the internet or some other network. In simple words Antivirus software protects the computer internally that is it is an internal security measure whereas a firewall functions as an external security measure that is it analyses network trafficking before they come in contact with the computer. For instance, the security guy at the entrance of the building can be considered as a firewall whereas the caretaker of the building can be considered as antivirus software. 

The main goal of antimalware is to filter the overall network traffic for preventing viruses, malware, and infected files from entering the network or computer. On the contrary, the main goal of antivirus is to detect, remove and disarm viruses or malware that are already present in the computer network.

Conclusion

The article has been carried out on the main topic of the difference between antivirus and Firewall. Both antivirus and Firewall, are used to protect the computer from viruses, malware, and other infected files but there is a significant difference between the two. Antivirus functions as an internal security measure whereas Firewall functions as an external measure of security. To discuss the core topic of the difference between antivirus and Firewall., firstly the definition of antivirus and firewall has been analysed followed by their difference.