Software installed by you on your computer so that you can be alerted when you have a virus is termed as Anti-virus software. Anti-virus software will help to keep your computer safe against Trojan horses, viruses, worms and other uninvited programs. The software assists the users to keep their computer system virus free.
Presently, the most popular anti virus software available in the market are McAfee Anti-Theft File Protection, Axis Communications anti virus and Symantec anti virus. The software absolutely cleans your computer. The important thing to remember about anti-virus software is that you make sure to update it often so that you get the latest computer virus definitions installed into the software program. There is no point in having the anti-virus software if you’re not going to update it. You’ll be able to get updates from the vendor that sold you the anti-virus software, such as Norton.
Anti-virus software works with the function of performing Prevention, Detection, Inoculation and Vaccination. Anti-virus programs may be defensive or curative. Its preventive technique include stopping attempts at direct access such as formatting and deleting, or even write protecting the hard disk while testing familiar software. The invigorating process is achieved by maintaining a copy of CMOS information, boot sector information, the file allocation table, etc., in a safe area like a floppy.
The detectors warn the user about the presence of a virus after it is loaded into the machine or disk. These programs preserve a file with a list of checksum values of the executable files. The vaccinators inject some code into the executable files. When the vaccinated file is run, the injected code performs an integrity check on the program being executed and warns if any changes have been made.
The function of inoculators is to insert the virus signature into infected areas or files at suitable location. When the virus performs their self detection, they find their signature and believe that the /disk/file/memory is already infected and so do not infect. The better equipped anti-viral programs are also capable of controlling damages caused due to virus attack.
You have to make sure that you use the anti-virus software properly once it is installed on your computer. There must be proper settings in your computer robotically turning the anti-virus software on when you boot it up, as you always want to be protected. If you’re downloading something off the Internet, your anti-virus software will let you know if there is a problem.
