For years, traditional antivirus software like McAfee, Norton, Webroot, and Trend Micro ruled the cybersecurity world. But as cyber threats continue to evolve, these old-school solutions are struggling to keep up. At DarkHorse IT, we’ve seen the limitations of these outdated tools, which is why we’ve moved beyond them to modern, AI-driven solutions called Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
We support all three of the top EDR platforms—CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, and SentinelOne—but if you ask us which one we trust the most, it’s SentinelOne. Not only do we recommend it for our clients, but it’s also what we use to protect our own systems.
But why are traditional antiviruses falling behind? And what makes EDR solutions like SentinelOne so much better? Let’s break it down.
Why Traditional Antivirus Software is Falling Behind
1. Signature-Based Detection is Outdated
Antivirus software like McAfee, Norton, Webroot, and Trend Micro heavily relies on signature-based detection. This means they compare files against a database of known malware signatures to identify threats. The problem?
- Polymorphic Malware: Hackers now develop malware that continuously changes its code to evade detection.
- Zero-Day Exploits: Brand-new threats not yet cataloged in any signature database.
With hundreds of thousands of new threats emerging daily, these static databases are simply overwhelmed. By the time updates catch up, the damage is often already done.
2. Reactive, Not Proactive
Traditional antivirus tools are built to react to known threats, not anticipate or prevent the unknown. Modern attacks often involve:
- Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Long-term, targeted attacks that remain hidden while gathering sensitive data.
- Fileless Malware: Malicious code that lives in memory or exploits legitimate system processes like PowerShell and WMI. There’s no file to scan, so traditional antivirus tools are rendered useless.
3. Evasion Techniques Are More Sophisticated
Cybercriminals are now employing advanced techniques to bypass legacy antivirus software. These include:
- Obfuscation and Encryption: Hiding malicious code within legitimate files or encrypting it to avoid detection.
- Living-off-the-Land Attacks: Using trusted system tools to carry out attacks, making detection even harder.
Antivirus software relying solely on static databases and predictable scanning routines simply can’t keep up.
4. Performance Overhead
Ever notice how McAfee, Norton, Webroot, and Trend Micro can drag down your computer’s performance? Traditional antivirus tools often require constant scanning and updates, hogging resources and slowing down your system. That’s not something users or organizations can afford when speed and efficiency are crucial.
5. The Shift to Cloud and AI-Based Threats
Today’s cyber threats are leveraging the cloud and even AI to launch sophisticated attacks. Traditional antivirus software lacks the adaptability and intelligence to effectively respond to:
- Cloud-based threats targeting distributed systems.
- AI-driven attacks like automated phishing or deepfake scams.
What’s Replacing Traditional Antivirus?
The industry is moving toward EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) solutions that do far more than just scan for malware signatures. They continuously monitor devices, detect suspicious behavior, and respond to threats in real time.
Top EDR Solutions
At DarkHorse IT, we work with the best in the industry:
- SentinelOne (Our Top Pick):
- Why We Recommend It: AI-driven and autonomous, SentinelOne offers robust protection against fileless attacks and can even roll back ransomware damage. Its “Storyline” feature contextualizes events for easier investigations, making it ideal for teams with limited manpower.
- CrowdStrike:
- Why It’s Popular: A cloud-native heavyweight known for rapid deployment, behavioral analytics, and powerful threat hunting capabilities.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint:
- Why It Works: Especially effective for businesses using the Microsoft ecosystem, integrating seamlessly with Windows, Azure, and Office 365.
Why DarkHorse IT Recommends SentinelOne
At DarkHorse IT, we’ve chosen SentinelOne because of its outstanding ability to detect threats before they cause damage. Its AI-driven approach allows for:
- Autonomous response—it detects and acts on threats without waiting for human intervention.
- One-click remediation—making cleanup fast and easy.
- Ransomware rollback—reverse damage caused by ransomware attacks within moments.
- Efficient performance—no constant scans bogging down your system.
We trust it to protect our systems, and we’re confident it can protect yours too.
Ready to Move Beyond Old-School Antivirus?
If you’re still relying on outdated software like McAfee, Norton, Webroot, or Trend Micro, it’s time to consider a modern solution. Reach out to us at DarkHorse IT, and we’ll help you upgrade your cybersecurity with powerful EDR solutions that actually keep you safe.
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