What is Antivirus Software?

What is Antivirus Software?

Antivirus software (computer protection software) is a program(s) that is created to search, detect, prevent and remove software viruses from your system that can harm your system. Other harmful software such as worms, adware, and other threats can also be detected and removed via antivirus. This software is designed to be used as a proactive approach to cyber security, preventing threats from entering your computer and causing issues. Most antivirus software operates in the background once installed, providing real-time protection against virus attacks....

Types of Cyber Threats

As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow, so does the risk of cybercrime for mobile phones, laptops, smart home devices, and other internet-connected devices. According to the 2023 Cost of Data Breach Study by IBM, the average cost of a data breach involving mobile devices is \$1.9 million. You need to protect yourself against malware by using strong passwords, keeping your devices up to date, and being careful about what apps you download....

How Antivirus Works?

Antivirus software works by comparing your computer applications and files to a database of known malware kinds. Because hackers are continually creating and disseminating new viruses, they will also check systems for the presence of new or undiscovered malware threats. The antivirus checks files, programs, and applications going in and out of your computer to its database to identify matches. Similar and identical matches to the database are segregated, scanned, and eliminated....

Examples of Antivirus Software

The antivirus software is available in 2 types:...

Benefits of Antivirus Software

Spam and advertisements are blocked: Viruses exploit pop-up advertising and spam websites as one of the most common ways to infect your computer and destroy your files. Antivirus acts against harmful virus-infected adverts and websites by denying them direct access to your computer network. Virus protection and transmission prevention: It identifies any possible infection and then attempts to eliminate it. Hackers and data thieves are thwarted: Antivirus do regular checks to see if there are any hackers or hacking-related apps on the network. As a result, antivirus offers complete security against hackers. Protected against devices that can be detached: Antivirus scans all removable devices for potential viruses, ensuring that no viruses are transferred. To improve security from the toweb, restrict website access: Antivirus restricts your online access in order to prevent you from accessing unauthorized networks. This is done to ensure that you only visit websites that are safe and non-harmful to your computer. Password Protection: Using antivirus, you should consider using a password manager for added security....

Disadvantages of Antivirus programs

Slows down system’s speed: When you use antivirus programs, you’re using a lot of resources like your RAM and hard drive. As a result, the computer’s overall speed may be significantly slowed.  Popping up of Advertisements: Apart from commercial antivirus applications, free antivirus must make money in some way. One approach to attaining these is through advertising. Many times these advertisements degrade the user experience by popping up every time. Security Holes: When security flaws exist in the operating system or networking software, the virus will be able to defeat antivirus protection. The antivirus software will be ineffective unless the user takes steps to keep it updated. No customer care service: There will be no customer service provided unless you pay for the premium version. If an issue arises, the only method to solve it is to use forums and knowledge resources....

Antivirus Software/Program – FAQs

1. What is a computer virus? List its types....