Cybersecurity trends: The evolving role of antivirus software

The role of antivirus software is evolving as modern cyberattacks become more sophisticated and operating systems integrate stronger built-in protections. For small businesses, relying solely on traditional antivirus can create security gaps, as attackers increasingly use stolen credentials, legitimate system tools, or malicious code in memory to bypass file-based detection.

While traditional antivirus remains a useful first line of defense against known malware, effective security now requires a layered approach including prevention, visibility, and response. For individual users, built-in tools like Microsoft Defender on Windows 11, Google Play Protect on Android, and native macOS protections have become highly effective. Independent testing, such as evaluations by AV-TEST and AV-Comparatives, has shown that built-in solutions can achieve top-tier protection rates, making paid third-party suites less of an absolute necessity unless users require additional features like VPNs, identity monitoring, or parental controls.