Antivirus software is a program or set of programs designed to prevent, search for, detect, and remove software viruses, and other malicious software like worms, trojans, adware, and more. Its primary purpose is to secure devices, data, and systems from potential threats.
Here are some key features of antivirus software:
- Malware Detection and Removal: The main function of an antivirus is to scan, detect, and remove various types of malicious software, including viruses, trojans, worms, spyware, ransomware, and adware.
- Real-time Scanning: This feature allows the antivirus software to continuously check your device for potential threats in real time, which provides a higher level of protection.
- Web Protection: Most antivirus programs include features to protect you while browsing the internet, such as blocking malicious websites, scanning downloads for malware, and protecting your personal information.
- Email Protection: Many antivirus solutions include email protection, which scans incoming and outgoing emails for potential threats such as phishing attacks or malicious attachments.
- Firewall: Some antivirus software includes a built-in firewall, which monitors all incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocks unauthorized access to your computer.
- Regular Updates: With new malware and viruses emerging daily, it’s crucial that your antivirus software is regularly updated with the latest virus definitions to provide effective protection.
Examples of antivirus software include Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan, and Avast Free Antivirus. It’s important to remember that while antivirus software is a crucial part of a good security plan, it can’t fully protect your device from all online threats. Hence, it’s necessary to follow good online security practices in addition to having an antivirus installed.