How do antivirus programs detect and remove threats?

Antivirus programs identify and eliminate threats using a variety of methods, such as signature-based detection (matching known patterns of malware), heuristic analysis (detecting suspicious behavior), and sandboxing (isolating and analyzing potentially harmful files in a controlled environment). They can also utilize machine learning algorithms to detect new and unknown threats based on behavior patterns.

While antivirus programs are essential for protecting against many types of malware, they may not provide comprehensive protection on their own. It’s important to combine antivirus software with good security practices, such as keeping your operating system and other software up to date, using strong passwords, being cautious of email attachments and links, and utilizing additional security measures like firewalls and anti-malware tools to enhance your overall protection against cyber threats.