Antivirus software, also known as anti-malware software, is designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, including viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware. Here are the key features and working principles of antivirus software:

Signature-Based Detection: Antivirus software utilizes a database of known malware signatures. When scanning files or systems, it compares the characteristics of the scanned items with the signatures in its database. If a match is found, the antivirus software identifies the file as malicious and takes appropriate action, such as quarantining or deleting it.

Heuristic Analysis: Antivirus software employs heuristic analysis to identify new or unknown malware that doesn't have a specific signature in its database. It uses various algorithms to analyze the behavior, code patterns, and characteristics of files or processes to determine if they exhibit potentially malicious behavior.

Real-time Protection: Antivirus software provides real-time protection by actively monitoring files, processes, network traffic, and other system activities. It scans incoming and outgoing data, web pages, email attachments, and downloads to detect and block potential threats before they can execute on the system.

It's worth noting that while antivirus software is a crucial component of cybersecurity, it should be complemented with other security measures such as regular software updates, strong passwords, secure browsing habits, and user awareness to create a comprehensive defense against cyber threats.