---
title: Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Antivirus
description: Antivirus software is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, worms, and other malicious software. It typically operates by scanning files and system activities to identify potential threats.
---

[Jericho Security | Glossary](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary)

# [Jericho's Cybersecurity Glossary | Antivirus](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/antivirus)

 Written by [Jericho Security Team](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/author/jericho-security-team) | September 27, 2024

#### *Definition:*

Antivirus software is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, worms, and other malicious software. It typically operates by scanning files and system activities to identify potential threats.

#### *Use Cases:*

- Used by individuals and organizations to protect devices from malware infections.
- Employed in combination with other security measures like firewalls and intrusion detection systems to enhance network security.

#### *Related Terms:*

- [Malware](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/malware)
- [Spyware](https://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/spyware)

#### *Questions and Answers:*

- **How does antivirus software detect malware?**Antivirus software uses signature-based detection, heuristic analysis, sandboxing and behavior monitoring to identify malware based on known patterns and unusual system behaviors.
- **What are the limitations of antivirus software?**Antivirus software may not detect new, unknown threats (zero-day exploits) and can sometimes produce false positives, flagging legitimate files as malicious. It is important to keep the antivirus software up-to-date as new malware is found daily. 
- **Why is it important to keep antivirus software updated?**Regular updates ensure the software has the latest virus definitions and can detect newly discovered malware threats.

[View full post](http://www.jerichosecurity.com/glossary/antivirus)

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