Application Reviews / Antivirus Software

Antivirus Software

Antivirus software is made up of computer programs that identify, stop, and remove computer viruses. Many modern day antivirus utilities also protect from malicious software programs called malware.

All antivirus utilities attempt to prevent and remove computer viruses by the following two different methods.

• Scanning the computer files for the viruses to match a virus definition in their own virus definition file.
• Recognizing malicious behavior by any computer program for the possible virus infection. Computer identifiable information can be taken by the antivirus software for this purpose.

There are other ways to detect viruses in computer systems adopted by some top antivirus software programs these days. They are:

Heuristic Analysis:

Depending on the settings, this method of virus detection can try to copy the beginning of the code of each new executable file that the system invokes before transferring control to that executable file. This way, the program which seems to modify its code by itself or otherwise appear as a virus can be detected.

Sandbox Detection Method:

In this virus detection method, the antivirus utility utilizes a simulation called sandbox to halt the operating system and run the suspected executable file in sandbox. After the termination of the program, antivirus software scans the sandbox for any changes which may indicate a virus and if found eliminate it.

One of the top antivirus programs is McAfee VirusScan 9.0, which is reviewed in the following.

McAfee VirusScan 9.0:

This is the most popular version of McAfee Antivirus. The particular areas of improvement are:

• Better handling of large email attachments
• Better treatment of potentially unwanted programs or spyware
• Scanning of both inbound and outbound emails
• Scanning of the files received via Instant Messengers

McAfee VirusScan 9.0, after detecting hundred percent of viruses in the wild in the most recent study by AV-Test.org, has received certification from the ICSA. It was rated number one by AV-Comparatives.org