Avelardo Sete Ouana

Anti - Virus

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

Management Of Information Systems And Networks

University São Tomás De Mocambique

Maputo - 2022
 Avelardo Sete Ouana

Anti - Virus

SCHOOL OF SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES

The present research work is to be handed to the

department of IT for evaluation purposes Under
the supervision of Lecturer Flora Chihururu.

University São Tomás De Moçambique - Mozambique

Maputo – 2022
Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1
Overview ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
How Anti – Virus Works ............................................................................................................................ 2
Types of Anti – Virus .................................................................................................................................. 3
Preventive Antivirus: .............................................................................................................................. 3
Antivirus identifiers: ............................................................................................................................... 3
Antivirus Decontaminators: ................................................................................................................... 3
Antivirus Software Types ........................................................................................................................... 3
Standalone Antivirus Software .............................................................................................................. 3
Security Software Suites ......................................................................................................................... 4
Cloud-Based Antivirus Software ........................................................................................................... 4
Antivirus Software Examples .................................................................................................................... 4
Bitdefender ............................................................................................................................................... 4
Norton ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Panda........................................................................................................................................................ 5
McAfee LiveSafe ..................................................................................................................................... 5
BullGuard ................................................................................................................................................ 5
How to Choose Antivirus Software ........................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 8
Introduction
This research aims to study the use of antivirus by users in order to keep the computer safe from
most possible malware, as well as their efficiency in fighting viruses. This study is necessary
because it makes it possible to demonstrate the verification of the main malware, its form of
infection and how the antivirus is responsible for protecting our computer against these infection
threats. Currently, digital systems are used all the time, however, the lack of knowledge in their
use jeopardizes the protection of user data contained therein. Due to the dangers existing in these
systems, the lack of knowledge facilitates the unauthorized action of these malicious programs and
agents. The research seeks to analyze the dangers, making users aware and presenting possible
solutions for the prevention and removal of malicious agents, to avoid existing traps, such as fraud
and information theft. Users' lack of knowledge when operating the digital system, where basic
protection and correction programs are not used by them. In this way, the work also provides
essential recommendations for anyone interested in containing these evils.

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Overview
Anti – virus is a security program you install on your computer or mobile device to protect it from
getting infected by malware. The term “malware” is a catch – all phrase for any type of malicious
software, such as viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware. In fact, the term malware comes from
combining the words malicious and software. If your computer has become infected by malware,
cyber attacker can capture all of your keystrokes, steal your documents or use your computer to
attack others. Contrary to what some people believe, any operating system, include Mac OS X and
Linux, can be infected.

You can purchase anti – virus software as a standalone solution or it is often included as part of a
security package. The problem is that anti – virus can no longer keep up with cyber attackers, they
are constantly developing and releasing new types of malware. There are so many new versions of
malware released every day that no anti – virus program can detect and protect against all of them.
This why it is important for you to understand that while anti – virus will help protect your
computer, it cannot detect or stop all types of malware.

How Anti – Virus Works

In general, there are two ways anti – virus software identifies malware: signature detection and
behavior detection.

Signature detection works like the human immune system. It scans your computer for
characteristics or signatures of programs known to be malicious. It does this by referring to a
dictionary of known malware. If something on your computer matches a pattern in the dictionary,
the program attempts to neutralize it. Like the human immune system, the dictionary approach
requires updates, like flu shots, to protect against new strains of malware. Anti – virus can only
protect against what it recognizes as harmful. The problem is that cyber attackers are developing
new malware so fast that anti – virus vendors cannot keep up. As a result, no matter how recently
your anti – virus was updated, there is always some new variant of malware that can potentially
bypass your anti – virus software.

With behavior detection, anti – virus does not attempt to identify known malware, but monitors
the behavior of software installed on your computer. When a program acts suspiciously, such as

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trying to access a protected file or to modify another program, behavior – based anti – virus
software spots the suspicious activity and alerts you to it. This approach provides protection against
brand new types of malware that do not yet exist in any dictionary. The problem with this approach
is that it can generate false warning. You, the computer user, may be unsure about what to allow
or not allow and become desensitized to all those warnings over time. You might be tempted to
click on “Accept” on every warning, leaving your computer open to attack and infection. In
addition, by time the behavior is detected, the malware most likely has already run on your machine
and you may not known action the the malware took before the anti – virus software identified it.

Types of Anti – Virus

Preventive Antivirus:
These antiviruses are characterized by early warning of a possible infection. It is normally
installed in the computer's memory and monitors system actions and functions.

Antivirus identifiers:
This type of antivirus identifies infectious programs that can affect the system. In addition, they
track specific code sequences associated with these viruses.

Antivirus Decontaminators:
They have characteristics similar to identifiers. However, they differ in that these antiviruses
specialize in decontaminating infected systems by eliminating malicious programs. The main
objective of this type of antivirus is that the system returns to the way it was initially.

Antivirus Software Types

All antivirus programs can be organized into the following three categories:

Standalone Antivirus Software

Standalone antivirus software is a specialized tool designed to detect and remove certain viruses.
It is commonly referred to as portable antivirus software because it can also be installed on a USB
drive and used by administrators to run an emergency scan of an infected system. However, most
portable programs aren’t designed to provide real-time protection and download new virus

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definitions daily, which is why they cannot substitute internet security suites that include a variety
of additional features.

Security Software Suites

As mentioned above, security software suites are more than just antivirus programs. In addition
to being able to detect and remove viruses, they are also equipped to fight all other types of
malicious software and provide round-the-clock protection for your computer and files. Most of
these program packages include anti-spyware, firewall, and parental controls features. Some also
include additional functionality like password managers, a VPN, and even a standalone antivirus
program bundled with the suite.

Cloud-Based Antivirus Software

Cloud-based antivirus software is a fairly new type of antivirus technology that analyzes your files
in the cloud rather than your computer in order to free up your computational resources and allow
for a faster response. These programs typically consist of two parts – the client that is installed on
your computer and runs periodic virus and malware scans without taking up too much memory
and the web service that processes the data gathered by the client and inspects it for matches in its
virus and malware database.

Antivirus Software Examples

With millions of active viruses and malicious programs costing the global economy billions of
dollars each year, it’s no surprise that there are numerous antivirus programs available on the
market. They differ in terms of price, the platform they are designed for, functionality, as well as
added features.

Some of the best antivirus programs available right now include the following:

Bitdefender
Bitdefender Total Security is a comprehensive security suite that provides optimal protection
against viruses and all types of malicious software. Compatible with the four major operating
systems and smart homes, this user-friendly antivirus software also includes a free VPN with a
200MB daily limit, parental controls, webcam protection, a password manager, and a tool

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specifically designed to fight ransomware. This security suite is very competitively priced and will
provide 24/7 protection for up to five devices.

Norton
Symantec’s Norton has been around for almost three decades and is without a doubt one of the
most recognizable names in cybersecurity. Its security software suite Norton Security Premium is
compatible with all four major platforms as well as smart homes and comes with a variety of
excellent features. Although it doesn’t include a free VPN service, it offers parental controls and
a whopping 25GB of online storage space. This is great for owners of multiple gadgets, as one
license protects up to 10 devices.

Panda
Panda is another excellent antivirus program that offers excellent protection from all known cyber
threats. Known for its fast performance, this antivirus software is only compatible with Windows,
macOS, and Android. Despite not supporting iOS, the suite comes with a VPN service with a
150MB daily limit, a password manager, parental controls, and a standalone USB antivirus
program. Designed to provide protection for up to five devices, Panda Antivirus also includes a
full Android malware scanner.

McAfee LiveSafe
McAfee LiveSafe is unique in that a single license is valid for an unlimited amount of devices.
Compatible with all four major operating systems, this security suite provides superior malware
protection for Windows and Android-powered machines without affecting their performance.
Although the parental control function is not as advanced as the competition, the inclusion of
McAfee’s True Key password manager more than makes up for it. Equipped with facial
recognition functionality, it will keep all your login data extra-safe.

BullGuard
Another security software suite designed primarily for Windows and Android, BullGuard offers
a high level of antivirus and anti-malware protection without slowing down your computer.
Although there’s no VPN included in the package, there are plenty of bells and whistles here,
including a game booster, cloud backup, parental control, and safe browsing functionality.

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However, macOS users can only run antivirus scans, while the suite is incompatible with iOS. A
single license is valid for up to five devices.

How to Choose Antivirus Software

The market is flooded with antivirus programs that claim to provide optimal protection for your
computer, your files, and your personal data. With such strong competition, finding the best
antivirus software may prove difficult. When choosing an antivirus program for your personal use,
you need to consider its effectiveness against cyber threats, its performance, the features it
includes, the operating systems it is compatible with, as well as the number of devices it can
protect.

While there are plenty of free antivirus programs, they might not be such a great choice, even for
a budget-conscious buyer. For one, they never provide full protection against all threats, which
means that you’ll also have to install at least one additional anti-malware program on your PC.
Most of them are also ad-supported, which is why they’re often classified as adware. What’s more,
they may even include a spyware component so that the authors can track your browsing activity
and display better-targeted ads.

Although it’s not free, the best antivirus software is often available at a sizeable discount. These
programs are the only way to ensure that your computer and your files are protected at any given
time. They will monitor your computer 24/7 to detect and remove any existing viruses and
malware, as well as to ward off all incoming threats. In addition to your computer, they will also
protect your smartphones, tablets, smart television sets, and all other internet-connected devices
without slowing them down.

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Conclusion
Anti – virus is an important part to securing your computer and mobile devices. Whenever
possible, we recommend you install and actively use it. However, the key point to remember is
that regardless of how your anti – virus works, it can never protect you from all types of malware.
Ultimately, you, and not just technology, are the best defense against today´s cyber attackers.

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Bibliography
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https://edu.gcfglobal.org/pt/virus-e-antivirus/o-que-sao-antivirus/1/

https://www.supermicro.com/manuals/motherboard/C600/MNL-1725.pdf

https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-antivirus-software-152947

http://www2.fsanet.com.br/Professor/Material/Material-de-Apoio/Amelia-Acacia-de-Miranda-
Batista/Bacharelado-emEnfermagem/Informatica-na-Saude/Virus_de_computador.pdf

https://www.trabalhosfeitos.com/ensaios/Antiv%C3%ADrus/53539031.html

http://www.apostilasobjetivaapp.com.br/pdfs/pdfdemo/434/amostra-2-caderno-de-
informatica.pdf