Antivirus Software Guide

Antivirus software is one type of software that shields computers from malware infections. This includes viruses and Trojans as well as spyware, adware rootkits and worms. It can also help detect and repair the damage done by these threats.

Antivirus software is a must-have for any PC or mobile device. They can protect against attacks by hackers, identify and remove phishing attacks, ransomware and spam emails. They can also scan and protect connected devices such as printers, SmartTVs, cameras and other appliances from malware-related infections too.

When selecting an antivirus program pick one that has been tested and received good reviews by independent laboratories. Organizations like Virus Bulletin, TechRadar, NSS Labs and AV Comparatives conduct tests and provide detailed reviews of the various antivirus software choices. They will inform you of the security features they provide as well as how the program performs, and if it’s worth the investment.

While traditional antivirus software relies on the signature, or binary pattern, of a virus to identify malware guide top it as malicious, most hackers have stayed ahead this by creating oligomorphic, polymorphic, and more recently metamorphic viruses that encrypt parts of themselves, or alter their appearance to not match virus signatures in antivirus databases. Sandbox analysis is a feature used by modern antivirus programs to fight these sophisticated malware threats. The program runs the file within a virtual environment in order to see how it behaves.