Embark on a journey of knowledge! Take the quiz and earn valuable credits.
Take A QuizChallenge yourself and boost your learning! Start the quiz now to earn credits.
Take A QuizUnlock your potential! Begin the quiz, answer questions, and accumulate credits along the way.
Take A QuizAlternatively referred to as antivirus software, AVS, antivir, or AV. An antivirus program is a software utility designed to protect your computer or network against computer viruses. If a virus is detected, the computer displays a warning asking if the infection should be quarantined, removed, ignored, or MOVED to the vault.
Do I need an antivirus program?As mentioned above, if your computer is infected with a virus without an antivirus program installed, any number of malicious actions could occur. If you are running Microsoft Windows or macOS, we recommend having an antivirus program installed on the computer. If you have the latest version of Windows, make sure at the very least that Windows Defender is running.
If a virus infects a computer without an antivirus program, it may delete files, prevent access to files, send spam, spy on you, or perform other malicious actions. In some situations, a computer may not be COMPATIBLE with your computer and the virus would only be used to spread to other computers.
What are examples of antivirus programs?Today, there are different companies and antivirus products available for computers, servers, and even phones. New versions of Microsoft Windows even include Windows Defender, which with the latest versions of Windows can defend against computer viruses. Other well-known antivirus programs include Norton antivirus and McAfee, and popular free antivirus programs include Avast and AVG. See the link below for a full list of links and comparisons.
There are also antivirus programs that run from a USB flash drive or CD/DVD, making it portable and available to run without being installed. Many portable antivirus programs provide a GUI to run antivirus scans, while others provide a command line interface to run scans from the command line. Additionally, some portable antivirus programs are bootable, meaning they can scan a computer at boot up. A bootable antivirus program is especially helpful if a computer will not load into an operating system, due to a virus infection or other problems.
Portable antivirus programsBelow are several portable antivirus programs that have proven to be excellent at removing viruses and malware.
Once an antivirus is installed and running, the program protects your computer from any new viruses or malware installing on your computer. All new antivirus programs also schedule times to scan all computer files for past infections or can be manually run at any time.
After installing an antivirus program on your computer, it should automatically start each time you boot your computer. If the antivirus program is not running in memory (in the background) your computer is not entirely protected. When running the program should show in the Windows Notification Area. In the PICTURE is the AVG is the center icon in the Windows Notification Area. Right-clicking or double-clicking the antivirus icon opens the program and allows you to manually start a scan or view other available options.
The first antivirus programs began appearing in 1987 with the introduction of an antivirus program from G Data Software for the ATARI ST. Later in the same year, VirusScan was introduced by John McAfee, which later became the McAfee antivirus program.
How to update antivirus definitions or keep the antivirus updatedEvery antivirus program also has definitions that tell the antivirus program how to detect and clean any new viruses that may have been released. Thankfully today most antivirus programs automatically connect to the Internet and download the latest definitions or warn you if it's not up-to-date.
If you do not update your antivirus, it cannot detect any new virus.
What happens if we do not update an antivirus?As mentioned above an antivirus update keeps your antivirus software up-to-date with all the latest virus definitions. If a new virus is released and you have not updated your antivirus, it cannot detect the virus and would infect your computer.
Turn Your Knowledge into Earnings.
Ever curious about what any word really means? Dictionary has got them all listed out for you to explore. Simply,Choose a subject/topic and get started on a self-paced learning journey in a world of word meanings and translations.
Write Your Comments or Explanations to Help Others