What is an Antivirus Software?
An antivirus is described as a software that is designed to detect, remove and prevent computer Malware which include viruses, worms, and Trojan Horses. An antivirus is also defined as a program that is capable of removing all other forms of Malware such as spyware or adware. Varieties of strategies are employed in the use and efficiency of an Antivirus; Signature detection is perhaps one of the best know form through which an antivirus detects a virus through an executable code. It has however been discovered that it is possible to be infected with new malware for which no security code exist to counter, in this case an anti virus will use zero-day threats or Heuristics.
Anti Virus Software
An anti virus program can use many methods to protect and scan a computer and its design is important as it may degrade the functioning of a computer especially if it is not designed properly. There are several ways through which an antivirus can use in detecting a malware and such ways include; File analysis, Signature base detection, Heuristic method detection, and File emulation detection methods.
File analysis detection of Malware involves the search for virus-like files. This operation often slow downs the functioning of the computer especially when the antivirus software needs to search all the files in different section or programs in the computer. File emulation involve the execution of a program a program in a virtual environment and logging what actions the program performs. File analysis and emulation method are the two main Heuristic methods of virus detection.
Signature method of antivirus detection is the commonest way through which an antivirus detects the operation of a virus in a computer. When a suspicious file is detected, the antivirus software will compare the file to several standard signatures and if it does not match any, the file is either blocked or removed from the computer. The antivirus may search the entire file of the document and each program because some viruses do embed themselves in some executable programs.
Most antiviruses rely on signatures in identifying malwares. The antivirus is just a viral code which helps in quarantining the virus when detected. The encryption of a file is a form of rendering the file useless to a virus. An antivirus removing tool is regarded as a form of antivirus tool which is used in detecting and removing a specific type of virus. Such tools are not designed to remove an extensive list of viruses but are built to remove some specific viruses. An example of antivirus tools is the “Stinger”.
AVG Anti Virus Protection
AVG antivirus protection makes use of all forms of traditional virus removal methods such as signatures as well as the most recent virus removal tools such as firewalls and Anti-Malware to eradicate viruses, Trojans, spywares, worms and many other forms of security attacks. The AVG antivirus protections also make use of anti-phishing tools to ensure that all websites you are working on have been certified to be free of scams and viruses. This is usually done with a green mark and any website that does not get the green mark is classified as a scam. Many other anti virus software also works similarly to the AVG Anti Virus Software.