How Does an Antivirus Program Work?

An antivirus program works by inserting itself into the lineup of programs that start when your computer is first turned on. The software may perform checks your system. Next, your computer starts up as usual, and you eventually see the desktop (where you may access your programs). The antivirus software continues to run silently in the background, monitoring your computer for potential threats.

If a virus is detected, you are usually informed and given the option of isolating infected files or deleting (permanently erasing) files the virus might have "infected" -- that is, damaged.

If detected and eliminated early, a virus may not infect your files, but if it does, you might lose valuable information, such as some or all of your word processing documents, or find your computer no longer functions properly. Backing up your files regularly can help minimize setbacks brought on by virus attacks.