How does antivirus software work to protect my computer?

Antivirus software is designed to protect your device from malware. It does this by constantly scanning your computer for viruses, adware, remote access trojans, and other malware that can come as email attachments or from web surfing or software downloads. Here is an in-depth explanation of how antivirus software operates, provided by experts.

1. Scanning Files and Programs: Antivirus software scans files and programs as they arrive on your device and compares them to known viruses. If a threat is detected, the software will warn you about it, prevent you from accessing a suspicious file or website, and attempt to eliminate the threat.

2. Detecting Suspicious Behavior: In addition to scanning incoming files and programs, antivirus software also scans programs already on your device, looking for any suspicious behavior.

3. Removing Viruses: If a virus or other form of malware is detected, most antivirus software features tools to either remove or quarantine the offending malware.

4. Updating Virus Definitions: Antivirus software regularly updates its database of virus definitions (known viruses) to ensure it can detect the latest threats.

Remember, no antivirus can provide 100% protection, and it's important to also follow good security practices like being careful about the emails you open, the links you click, the websites you visit, and the files you download. It's also recommended to keep your antivirus software and all other software on your device up to date.

Antivirus software scans for known malware signatures and behavior patterns, removing or quarantining malicious files to protect your system.