What is Antivirus Software & how does it work?

Antivirus Software and its working

We now use computers every day, and the cyber threat is the biggest threat ever. Malicious software are taking control of thousands of computers around the world. Unknowingly users around the world install some malicious software. So, what is the solution to stop this? Antivirus software plays a crucial role in preventing all this.

First of all, antivirus software is nothing but software that detects and deletes malicious software. Some antivirus software even prevents the working of these malicious programs.

In general, when we install antivirus software, it scans, detects, prevents, and finally deletes malware (Malicious Software) from the computer. These antivirus programs keep running in the background and prevent you from cyber threats in real-time.

Overview

Antivirus programs are essential to keep you protected from cybercriminals as the internet of things (IoT) is increasing its presence across our lives. More and more devices will be connected to the Internet. Hence, fraudulent actors will try to enter these devices for your data. So, cybersecurity has immense importance than ever before.

Furthermore, Antivirus programs scan the entire computer, web pages, suspicious software, data, and files. It also analyzes incoming and outgoing data over a network. It continuously searches for threats and monitors the behavior of various programs on your computer, keeping you safe all the time.

Besides, installing an antivirus program is not enough in today’s world. The new threats occur almost every minute in this vast world of the internet. So, keeping the software current and up-to-date is essential.

Besides, hackers and scammers still try to breach your protection by tweaking various breaching methods. Hence, effective antivirus software is essential and plays a crucial role in keeping you safe.

Types of cyber threats

We often come across the term cyber threat. But what exactly cyberthreats mean to you? In today’s world, there are various cyber threats. We will discuss them one by one.

The first thing we will discuss is malware. Malware is nothing but a software program created by hackers to steal user information. It denotes a variety of programs that damage computers, servers, or an entire network. The examples include viruses, Trojan horses, and spyware.

Furthermore, malware can destroy your system software and slow down your device. Malware can also delete files. Hackers generally create them to steal your personal information, your financial data, and even you can lose your identity. So, malware is effectively very harmful. So, antivirus software plays a vital role in removing them.

The second type of cyber threat is spyware. Spyware is nothing but malware that binds to your operating system and hide inside the operating system. Spyware doesn’t take any permission from you for the same. It makes different changes to the UX of your operating system. It also tracks your online activity. Spyware can show you unwanted sites or advertisements on your browser.

The third type of cyber threat is phishing. In phishing, hackers trick users into revealing real usernames and passwords of accounts. Generally, phishing attackers use email or even phone calls. They may use websites that look the same as your bank website. User unknowingly enters username or password and give information to an attacker. They may sound like bank professionals on phone calls and tell you about invalid bank activity, finally asking you about your financial information.

Furthermore, the phishing attackers may send you an email from an id very identical to your bank’s email id and may ask you to enter information. They may tell you about you winning a lottery and ask you to provide financial details. So, attackers use different tactics through phishing to extract information from the user.

How does antivirus software work?

Antivirus typically starts scanning your computer on your command. It starts scanning your computer programs, files, and folders against the database of various malware. The database keeps updating as you update your antivirus software. As new malware emerge every day, it is essential to keep your antivirus software up-to-date.

Besides, antivirus programs use three different detection methods. The first one is generic detection. In this detection, the software scans for the known parts and types of malware. This detection also looks for patterns related to the usual codebase. The second detection method is a specific detection. In this type, the software scans for familiar malicious software. The third detection method is heuristic detection. In this detection method, the software looks for unknown viruses by detecting file structures.

Furthermore, antivirus software then detects the file containing the virus and quarantines it for safety reasons. Once done, you can safely delete that file and keep your computer safe.

Advantages of antivirus software

The most important advantage of antivirus software is keeping you safe from external attackers. It scans your computer for threats and unwanted software. You can schedule a scan, so it automatically scans your computer in the background. The software identifies a specific file and program that looks malicious.

Besides, you can scan an entire computer or specific folder as per your choice. You can shred or delete malicious codes and programs in one click. The software keeps notifying you about the safety of your computer. Hence, you can work with peace of mind.

The antivirus software keeps your computer safe from spyware, ransomware, Trojan horses, viruses, adware, spams, and worms. Hence, even if a different virus emerges, you are still protected as antivirus software evolves too and tackle new kinds of viruses or any other threat.

In conclusion, antivirus software is a vital computer program that keeps your identity and private information safe from possible external threats. Hence, these softwares are essential than ever before.

Image Courtesy: Norton, Macafee