Antivirus protection software detects and deflects malware that can infiltrate a enterprise’s digital systems in order to steal, abuse or destroy data. It can be used to protect various devices, including laptops, desktops and mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones as well as connected home gadgets like printers and smart TVs.
Modern antivirus products employ multiple detection methods to ward off one virus. A common method is a signature-based detection. This involves analyzing files for matches and maintaining a database with distinct code snippets known as malware signatures. However, if attackers modify existing malicious code in a way that they not be recognized by these signatures, it is considered polymorphic and requires advanced detection methods.
Heuristic-based detection is an advanced method. It tries to identify malware by recognizing patterns unique to malicious software. For instance, changing and deleting large quantities of data, changing settings for other programs, or connecting remotely to computers. Security detection based on algorithms can result in false positives and fatigue.
Look for a robust antivirus program that is able to handle polymorphic malware, ransomware, memory attacks and other advanced threats. It should be simple to install on a range of devices, including Macs and Windows PCs, and run on different operating systems. Lastly, it should not consume too much system resources, since this could cause a slowdown in the performance of an individual device or even lead to computer crashes.
