Due to the increased number of digital threats in recent years, installing antivirus software has become an essential step for every desktop and mobile user.

But, how does antivirus software work exactly? Does it help prevent or clean the malicious software off your machine?

For answers to these and other questions, keep on reading below!

Computer Viruses vs Malware

Contrary to popular belief, the terms ‘malware’ and ‘computer virus’ are not interchangeable. Technically, while ‘malware’ is an umbrella term covering every type of malicious software out there, a ‘virus’ is a specific type of self-replicating malware.

The intent of these malicious packages takes several forms: deny user access, modify or destroy data, steal funds or information, hijack the device resources, spread other malware, spy on the user, and more.

Moreover, the term ‘anti-virus software’ is a misnomer to an extent since these programmes are developed to protect you against all types of malware, including but not limited to:

What Is Antivirus Software and How Does It Work?

Antivirus (or anti-malware) software is a computer programme specially designed to prevent, detect, and eliminate other malicious software.

Due to the large variety of malware lurking in the digital wild, these antivirus solutions rely on multiple virus detection methods, such as:

In addition to these behind-the-scenes algorithms, typical antivirus software also employs other security features for increased protection, such as:

  • Signature-based scanning—the traditional virus detection software utilises a large database of existing malware to identify new-found threats;Heuristic similarity analysis—instead of looking for a complete match (like the previous method) the heuristic process searches for and compares parts of the malware code to related viruses;Secure sandbox analysis—if and when the AV software defines an antivirus, it moves it to a secure digital testing ground to activate and check it safely;Real-time monitoring—blocks unexpected and irregular activities, especially via the user’s network, after which it hunts for the malware.

Note: To ensure top-notch protection of your data and privacy, look into premium antivirus software that includes all of the above, such as Kaspersky, McAfee, or similar products.

  • Manual, scheduled, and automatic malware scanner—every antivirus allows you to run a quick, specific, or full scan either on a regular or one-time basis;Additional phishing protection—recognise phishing attempts in emails, on websites, and in messaging apps;Multiple device protection—depending on your subscription plan, you may be allowed to install the antivirus software on more than one device;Secure firewall—protects your data by filtering the two-way traffic between your home network and the internet;VPN service—provides a virtual private network that hides your identity and online activity, and grants you access to any location on the web;System performance optimisation—a set of additional tools to update, clean, and speed up your device;Parental controls—some premium AV offerings also include advanced parental controls to set up restricted internet access for your children;Password manager—the more expensive anti-malware solutions also include a password manager that generates and safeguards all of your digital passwords.

Antivirus vs Anti-Malware

According to the antivirus software definition provided above, antivirus and anti-malware solutions are the same product nowadays, with ‘antivirus’ being the legacy term since originally it had to prevent and deal with this type of digital threats only.

Therefore, when you install modern antivirus software, you can expect it to eliminate all kinds of malware, including older computer viruses. Nevertheless, certain cyber-security companies still brand their products as ‘antivirus software’ for marketing purposes. 

On the other hand, other AV developers do make a difference between the two terms:

Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Device?

After learning what is virus protection, you might be asking yourself if you actually need this type of specialised software to protect your devices.

The short answer is: yes, you do!

The long answer is: it depends on your chosen platform and internet usage.

For instance, some operating systems are innately more secure than others. For instance, while most types of malware are coded for Windows, hackers rarely construct Linux-based viruses since Linux is much more secure than Windows. Likewise, macOS and iOS users can rest assured they will not fall prey to viruses anytime soon since Apple regularly updates its software and patches any vulnerabilities that may allow malicious software to access the system.

On the other hand, even though Android users are fairly safe from viruses, this mobile platform is still less secure than iOS. Therefore, for an additional security layer and peace of mind, Android consumers are advised to install a basic antivirus app.

Ultimately, common sense is the best antivirus solution you can apply since unsafe practices that lead to malware infections are easily avoidable. Therefore, prior to installing any antivirus programmes, users should learn about safe internet usage.

Logging Off

Studying the various types of malware and how to deal with them is an essential skill in today’s tech world. Ultimately, users can protect themselves from these digital threats by installing good antivirus software and practising common sense at all times.

1. Do antivirus softwares actually work?

Yes, they do. While various AV softwares differ in efficiency, even the most basic solutions can successfully deal with common threats, such as viruses, worms, and trojans.

2. How do virus scanners work?

If you wonder how does antivirus software work, especially its scanning feature, note that it combs through your files and compares them to a virus signature database in search of a match before it proceeds to eliminate any potential threats.