What Is Antivirus?
Antivirus is software that scans, detects and removes computer viruses. It can also thwart other malware such as spyware, adware and worms, helping to protect your data from hacking attempts and other cyber threats. Most antivirus programs work in the background and automatically, providing real-time protection against threats.
Modern antivirus tools offer a variety of different protective features, including cloud analysis, host intrusion prevention systems and more. These help to identify new and evolving malware attacks more quickly than older methods of detecting them. The right antivirus solution for you depends on a number of factors, including the level of protection you need, budget and what other types of technology solutions you have in place.
While it might seem obvious that antivirus is a crucial piece of software for anyone who uses a computer, some people are not aware that there are multiple types and levels of antivirus products available to suit all needs. For example, some products provide specific tools for protecting Apple macOS devices from different kinds of viruses and other malware. Other tools can sift through email threads and attachments, or track your online activities to look for suspicious behavior that might indicate the presence of a virus.
Other useful features that can be found in many antivirus products include on-access scanning, which starts up as soon as a device is turned on, and scheduled scans that run at regular intervals or on a set time. Some programs are also able to detect when your data has been leaked on the dark web and can alert you when this happens, allowing you to change your passwords immediately.