How does antivirus software work?

We all know that antivirus software is designed to keep your device protected – but have you ever wondered exactly how it does so?

In this article, we’re going to look at the way antivirus apps actually work, and the main pillars of protection that these pieces of software are built around.

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Watchful eye in real time

malware is found on your PC, the antivirus will take immediate action, hopefully stopping any malicious processes in their tracks there and then, while quarantining the malware so it can’t harm your system.

As we’ve seen in our antivirus reviews, when it comes to particularly dangerous malware like, for example, ransomware, sometimes the process isn’t quite stopped immediately, which may mean the ransomware manages to encrypt (hopefully only) a small number of files. Some packages will (again hopefully) be able to recover those files (fingers crossed).

The point here being that in some rarer cases, the damage isn’t stopped immediately, but the antivirus should step in very swiftly and any casualties should be minimal.

Of course, as part of looking after your system, a good antivirus will bring in extra layers of defense – such as a ransomware shield to defend against that particularly nasty strain of malware.

Commonly, an antivirus app will also protect your surfing with specific web protection measures, popping up warnings and preventing you from landing on any web pages which might carry malware, or are phishing vehicles, for example.

How does antivirus software work?

Antivirus apps use multiple layers of defense to guard against all the bad stuff which is floating around out there online. The key elements are real-time protection and heuristic technology, which should catch existing and as-yet-unknown threats respectively, helping to make your PC a safer and more secure place.

Of course, we have to bear in mind that nothing is completely bullet-proof in the security world –even the best antivirus apps aren’t infallible – and common sense plus good practice on the part of the user will always play an important role.

• Read more: How to choose the best antivirus for you