An antivirus is software designed to search, detect and remove software viruses from your laptop or mobile device. It’s the first line of defense against malware that can steal your personal information, destroy your system or even monitor you via your webcam. Antivirus software typically runs in the background, constantly checking your devices for any threats. It also stops the spread of infections via file sharing and alerts you to any problems.
In addition to viruses, cyber antivirus can also protect against worms, adware and rootkits, as well as Trojans. It’s crucial to choose the right program that has protection against these threats and an established track record of blocking. Some programs offer additional features like a VPN service or password manager to help protect your privacy and devices.
Another thing to watch out for is regular updates to the malware database. Hackers are constantly creating new ways to evade antivirus protection. Make sure your program is updated.
Some antivirus software uses heuristic detection. This technology looks for patterns in the way your system works and is able to detect malicious behavior if a virus isn’t well-known. Another technology that is commonly used is Sandbox analysis, which runs suspicious files in an isolated environment to study their behavior, without causing harm to your system. A good antivirus program should have a minimal impact on the performance of your system. You should avoid using software that uses a lot of resources or shows advertisements, which could slow down the speed of your PC overall.