Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware or anti-virus software, is a computer program designed to prevent, detect, and remove malicious software, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, adware, spyware, and other types of malware.
Antivirus software works by scanning files, programs, and data on a device for known patterns or signatures of malware, as well as by using behavioral analysis and heuristics to detect previously unknown or zero-day threats.
When a malware is detected, antivirus software can isolate or remove the malicious code, preventing it from causing harm to the system or spreading to other devices or networks.
Antivirus software typically includes features such as real-time scanning, scheduled scanning, automatic updates of virus definitions to detect new malware, quarantine or isolation of infected files, and removal of detected malware.
Some antivirus programs may also include additional features such as firewalls, intrusion detection, and web browsing protection to provide comprehensive security against various types of cyber threats.