Definition:
Antivirus software is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, worms, and other malicious software. It typically operates by scanning files and system activities to identify potential threats.
Use Cases:
- Used by individuals and organizations to protect devices from malware infections.
- Employed in combination with other security measures like firewalls and intrusion detection systems to enhance network security.
Related Terms:
Questions and Answers:
- How does antivirus software detect malware?
Antivirus software uses signature-based detection, heuristic analysis, sandboxing and behavior monitoring to identify malware based on known patterns and unusual system behaviors.
- What are the limitations of antivirus software?
Antivirus software may not detect new, unknown threats (zero-day exploits) and can sometimes produce false positives, flagging legitimate files as malicious. It is important to keep the antivirus software up-to-date as new malware is found daily.
- Why is it important to keep antivirus software updated?
Regular updates ensure the software has the latest virus definitions and can detect newly discovered malware threats.