What is Antivirus

Malicious software (malware) allows an intruder to take over or damage a target host without the owner’s consent and often without his or her knowledge. Over the past thirty years, malware has become a more serious worldwide problem as Internet-connected computers have proliferated and operating systems have become more complex. Today, the average PC user must be more cognizant of computer security than ever before due to the constant threat of possible infection. Although exact costs are difficult to determine, there is little doubt that malware has widespread impact on equipment damages, loss of data, and loss of productivity. According to surveys, malware is one of the most common and costly types of attack on organizations (CERT, CSO, and ECTF, 2005).