Term Paper About Anti Virus free essay sample

Antivirus software is used to protect computers, databases and all their electronically stored information from malicious logic programs. Antivirus software not only prevents infection, but it can also clean viruses and other malicious logic from an infected system. Due to the constant changes in malicious logic programs, however, definition files must be frequently updated. History The first antivirus software was created in 1988 in order to combat the Brain virus, which originated in Pakistan. This antivirus program not only detected the Brains presence on a computer and removed it; it could also clean floppy disks that were infected. Since 1988, writers of malicious code have flooded the Internet with viruses of various types, infecting users around the world. This has created a tremendous need for antivirus software. Types Antivirus software must be carefully crafted to eliminate various types of malicious logic programs, including viruses, worms and Trojan horses. A virus is a program written to attach to a file or another program. Once it has infected that file or program, the virus can travel with it between computers. Typically, a virus can only infect a computer when the file it has infected is opened or the program is run. Worms are another type of malicious logic program that affects computer systems. A worm also travels between computers by attaching to files or programs, but can spread even if the user does not open or access the infected file. A Trojan horse is a software program disguised as a useful type of program that will damage a system once loaded. Function Antivirus software performs many functions to prevent infection and remove malicious logic that has infiltrated a computer system. Scanning email prior to download can ensure that there is no unwanted code in email attachments. Periodically scanning computer files can also help antivirus software isolate any viruses that have infected a computer and prevent them from damaging the system. Updates Each version of a virus, worm or Trojan horse is unique and requires an antivirus program written specifically to prevent infection. As each new virus is found, antivirus programmers create new software to combat it. These software programs are available for users of antivirus software as updates. The constant proliferation of new malicious logic programs requires frequent updates to all types of antivirus software. Considerations While antivirus software, frequently updated, can protect against viruses, Trojan horses and worms, it cannot protect against other attacks. Users who are protected with robust antivirus software may feel that their system is safe, but it is still necessary to protect a system from hacking, phishing and other security threats. Examples †¢ Shield Deluxe Shield Deluxe is proof that quality anti-virus software does not have to be expensive. Shield Deluxe is powered by BitDefender, which is used to protect millions of computers all over the world from viruses. Not only does it defend against viruses and other malware, it also protects the PC and personal data from theft. †¢ Trend Micro Although hindered by a long installation time (15 minutes, one reboot required), Trend Micro is an effective program that will protect a computer from all types of viruses, including spyware, trojans and bots. It also comes equipped with excellent anti-spyware technology. †¢ Norton Antivirus Norton has resolved a lot of issues from the 2009 version, and now requires far less memory when being used. It continues to offer high-quality virus protection that works to detect, identify, and block attacks quickly, just as it has for the last 20 years. The 2010 version of Norton also incorporates a new feature called Internet Worm Protection, which blocks the more sophisticated worms before they enter the computer. †¢ Panda Antivirus Pro The 2010 edition of Panda Antivirus Pro features 30 percent faster scanning speeds and exclusive SmartClean technology that is especially effective while browsing through Internet sites. Furthermore, it automatically eliminates viruses and spyware that might have found their way on the hard drive, requiring no involvement from the user. This makes it a particularly useful program for computer novices who do not wish to get too hands-on. †¢ ZoneAlarm Anti-Virus A step-by-step wizard makes ZoneAlarm Anti-Virus easy to install, and from there the program requires very little memory, helping it blend into the background without distracting from other activities. ZoneAlarm is not certified by any of the three major virus protection labs but does offer quality virus detection and removal nonetheless, making it a good choice for those who want just the basics in an anti-virus program Utility Software Definition Utility software is programmed like any other software, except that it plays a supporting role. Usually relatively small programs, they typically perform a limited number of tasks. Utility programs include file management (creating, moving and renaming folders, copying and deleting files), file search, comparing file contents as well as performing diagnostic routines to check the performance and current health of the hardware. Function When your data has been destroyed in any way, you can recover and restore the data by using  data recovery  utility  software. Anti-virus software’s are also  utility  programs that can help protect your computer from dangerous viruses that can damage your system. Examples  of those utilities are MacAfee anti-virus, Avira anti-virus, web scan,  Norton anti-virus, AVG, and so on. We also have back-up  utility  software’s that can help back up you data so that incase your hard disk damages, you can still have your data back. An example of this  utility  is  Colorado  scheduler. Sometimes your data can take up a lot of space on your hard disk and leave a very less space available. You can use a  data compression  utility  to compress your data and create more space on your hard disk. An example of this  utility  is  pk zip. Sometimes, files can also be scattered in bits on your hard disk and therefore making it difficult to access them. You can therefore defragment those files by running a  disk defragmenter  utility. The  utility  usually brings the files together and arranges them in an adjacent manner therefore making it easier to access the files. Examples Disk defragmenters System Profilers Virus scanners Application launchers   network  managers Encryption utilities.