Antimalware software protects computers and IT systems from malicious software, or malware. It scans for, detects, and removes malware to keep your system safe.
Malware is designed to harm your data or computer. It disrupts operations, steals sensitive information, or gives unauthorized access to your system. Often hidden in files, malware sneaks onto your computer without you knowing. It can spread through emails, removable drives, or the internet. Common types of malware include viruses, spyware, worms, rootkits, and Trojan horses.
The three most common types are viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. A virus replicates itself and spreads between computers. Worms can spread independently without infecting other programs. Trojan horses disguise themselves as harmless software, like games, but contain harmful code that compromises your data.
People often confuse the terms malware and virus. A virus is a type of malware, but malware is broader and includes many threats. Historically, the terms antivirus and antimalware also meant different things. While they both combat threats, they originated from different functions.
Antimalware software includes several essential features:
- Antivirus component: It detects and removes known viruses.
- Malware removal: It quarantines or deletes threats.
- Real-time protection: It continuously monitors for suspicious activity.
- Identity protection: It secures sensitive personal information.
- Phishing detection: It spots fraudulent websites and email scams.
- Firewall: It analyzes network traffic to block potentially harmful software.
- Background scanning: It silently checks files and programs for threats.
- Boot scans: It scans for malware during system startup, a common entry point for threats.
Antimalware works through three main strategies:
- Signature-based detection: This uses known virus signatures to identify threats.
- Behavior-based detection: Instead of focusing on appearance, it examines how software behaves to identify malware. This method often uses machine learning.
- Sandboxing: This isolates suspicious files in a safe environment to prevent them from affecting the rest of the system.
Beyond just scanning for viruses, antimalware prevents malware attacks by checking incoming data and can protect against more advanced threats like ransomware. It can also block access to risky websites, track infection metrics, and analyze how malware breached your defenses.
Regularly running antimalware keeps systems running smoothly. The best antimalware tools catch threats effectively without slowing your computer down. Choices range from free to paid programs.
The Antimalware Service Executable (AMSE) is part of Microsoft Defender Antivirus, found on Windows 10 and 11. It runs in the background, scanning programs for malware and reporting findings to the user.
Several popular antimalware tools include:
- Avast One: Offers features like antiphishing and ransomware protection.
- Bitdefender Antivirus Plus: Multilayer ransomware protection and phishing defense.
- McAfee Antivirus: Includes VPN, firewall, and protection across multiple platforms.
- Norton 360: Covers malware and ransomware with a smart firewall.
- Trend Micro Antivirus+ Security: Uses AI for threat detection and protects financial data online.
Stay informed about malware as a service (MaaS)—a growing market where attackers can buy ready-to-launch malware on subscription. Understanding how to detect and reduce the risks associated with MaaS is essential.