The main benefit of antivirus software is to protect against malicious viruses, such as malware and spyware.
The purpose of antivirus software isn't only to defend a system against security threats and vulnerabilities, but also to provide real-time protection through automated vulnerability scans.Īntivirus software provides the following benefits: This makes antivirus software itself a common target for attackers, and researchers have discovered remote code execution and other serious vulnerabilities in antivirus software products in recent years. To scan systems comprehensively, antivirus software must generally be given privileged access to the entire system. Removes any malicious software it detects either automatically in the background or notifies users of infections and prompts them to clean the files.Lets users initiate new scans at any time.Enables users to schedule scans so they run automatically.Scans directories or specific files against a library of known malicious signatures to detect abnormal patterns indicating the presence of malicious software.Many antivirus software programs include real-time threat detection and protection to guard against potential vulnerabilities and perform system scans that monitor device and system files, looking for possible risks.Īntivirus software usually performs the following basic functions: A virus is just one of the many types of malware that antivirus software is designed to prevent, detect, search and remove.Īntivirus software typically runs as a background process, scanning computers, servers or mobile devices to detect and restrict the spread of malware. Typically installed on a computer as a proactive approach to cybersecurity, an antivirus program can help mitigate a variety of cyber threats, including keyloggers, browser hijackers, Trojan horses, worms, rootkits, spyware, adware, botnets, phishing attempts and ransomware attacks.ĭue to the constantly evolving nature of cybercrimes and new versions of malware being released daily, including zero-day attacks, no antivirus program can offer detection and protection against all threat vectors. Often included as part of a security package, antivirus software can also be purchased as a standalone option. What is antivirus software (antivirus program)?Īntivirus software (antivirus program) is a security program designed to prevent, detect, search and remove viruses and other types of malware from computers, networks and other devices.
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