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Antivirus software reduces the risk of malware infection.
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CONTESTED PARTIAL
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4 sources for · 3 against
Is it true that antivirus software reduces the risk of malware infection?
Partly. Evidence is mixed and only partial: one security Q&A reports high detection rates for known viruses, and NCSC guidance recommends antivirus on Windows, while a survey study finds commercial AV users self-report more security events and evasion research says most bypass techniques still work. No source settles the general claim at full strength.
Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 3 against · Last checked
Evidence for · 4
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Is anti-malware software effective?. (2011). skeptics.stackexchange.com. https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/2167/is-anti-malware-software-effective
Evidence against · 3
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Jardine, E. (2020). The Case against Commercial Antivirus Software: Risk Homeostasis and Information Problems in Cybersecurity. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13534
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More for · 3
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Mehmood, R., Ahmed, W., & Riaz, R. (2025). Modern Malware Evasion and Bypass Strategies Against Contemporary Antivirus Software. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.54692/ijeci.2024.0802196
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Device security guidance | Policies and settings | Antivirus and other security software | National Cyber Security Centreicons/chevron/16px/black. (n.d.). ncsc.gov.uk. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/device-security-guidance/policies-and-settings/antivirus-and-other-security-software
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N, R., MB, R., A, B., T, K., U, I., & A, S. (2025). Applying fractional calculus to malware spread: A fractal-based approach to threat analysis.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313914
More against · 2
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Barchuk, B. & Volkov, K. (2025). Antivirus evasion techniques in modern malware. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175312432.26548821/v1
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Malware Detection in Files and URL’s using Machine Learning. (2024). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.32628/cseit228618
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