An antivirus is a type of software that is designed to detect and remove malicious software (malware) from a computer. Antivirus software scans a computer’s files, memory, and other storage media for signs of malware, and removes any detected threats. The goal of antivirus software is to protect the computer from viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other forms of malware that can cause harm to the system, steal personal information, or compromise security.
Antivirus software can be used to protect both individual computers and networked systems, and there are many different antivirus programs available, ranging from free, basic programs to more advanced, paid solutions. Some antivirus software also provides additional features such as firewalls, email protection, and web browsing protection.