Antivirus: how it works and how important it is

Are antivirus programs still necessary for digital security? How do these programs really work and what’s the best way to use them? Are you curious to know the answers? Then check out this article.

What are antiviruses?

Antivirus software is designed to detect, block, and eliminate malicious programs – like malware – that can compromise your devices, your privacy, and your security. These malicious programs include viruses, Trojan horses, and worms, etc. 

How do antiviruses work? 

Antiviruses use a variety of technologies and techniques to identify and exclude these digital threats, the most common of which are heuristic analysis and signature analysis.

Signature analysis is the most traditional approach and the most often used by antiviruses. It works by comparing system files with a library of known virus signatures. If a match is found, the file is considered suspicious and treated accordingly. 

On the other hand, heuristic analysis represents a more proactive detection method. Heuristic algorithms are used to identify patterns of behavior that raise suspicions about the presence of malware. This technique allows antiviruses to detect unknown threats based on common characteristics shared by malicious programs, such as propagation strategies and attempts to hide and manipulate files.

Many software programs combine both signature analysis and heuristics for more comprehensive protection.

What are "quarantined" files? 

When a file is considered suspicious, it is quarantined. This means that it is isolated from the rest of the operating system to prevent it from causing further damage. As such, the file cannot be accessed or executed by the operating system, thus preventing any potentially dangerous malware from spreading to or damaging legitimate files or programs.

Generally speaking, quarantine is nothing more than a preventative measure adopted by the antivirus to deal with potential threats. Suspicious files are placed in an encrypted location and can later be revisited by the user or the antivirus itself to determine whether they are real threats or false positives. 

If the file is indeed malicious, the antivirus will safely remove it from the system. If the file is determined safe, it can be restored to its original location.

The importance of updates

Antiviruses need to be constantly updated to function optimally. After all, that’s how they incorporate information about the latest threats. Most antiviruses update themselves automatically, but it's always checking to see if manual updates are available. 

Antivirus is no substitute for good cybersecurity practices

Having an antivirus installed on your electronic devices is essential to staying malware-free. 

However, bear in mind that antiviruses don’t guarantee complete protection against digital attacks. After all, in something like a phishing scam, for example, the victim ends up providing their own information, unaware that they are being manipulated by a cybercriminal. In such cases, antivirus can only be of so much help.

That's why it's very important to keep up to speed with the best cybersecurity practices and turn them into everyday habits! Some include:   

• Don't click on suspicious links.

• Do not provide personal information by email or telephone.

• Do not use weak or repeated passwords.

• Don't connect USB flash or hard drives without first scanning them with antivirus software.

• Do not disable or ignore antivirus alerts.

If you use a dedicated computer for professional activities, it is essential to adopt the antivirus designated by your company and adhere to the internal guidelines regarding security software use.