Types of Internet Security Software | Antivirus Software

Although the Internet can be used for many useful and educational businesses, it can also be quite dangerous. Malicious software, also known as malware, can infect your computer, steal information, and even destroy your hard drive. Fortunately, there are many tools you can use to help strengthen security when you go online. 

Security software is a class of software that acts to identify, prevent, prevent, and repair the cause of damage by malicious code. Security software can be focused on preventing attacks from reaching their target, limiting attacks can cause damage if they reach their destination, and tracking the damage that has been caused so that it can be repaired. As the nature of malicious code evolves, so does security software. As a result, current forms of security software require constant updating, and new forms of security software may become increasingly necessary. 

Firewall

A firewall prevents unauthorized users from accessing a computer, allowing authorized users. Firewalls can be implemented with hardware (such as a firewall router) or software. Some computer operating systems include software firewalls in the operating system itself. For example, Microsoft Windows XP has a built-in firewall. Some independent software vendors create third-party firewall software that can complement or replace an operating system's built-in firewall. The purpose of all firewall software is to protect a system, preventing any form of attack from reaching the system.

Antivirus Software

Antivirus works to prevent malicious code from attacking a computer by recognizing the attack before it starts, when possible. But it is also designed to stop an attack in progress, which could not be avoided, and to repair damage caused by the attack once the attack subsides. Antivirus software is useful because it addresses security issues in cases where attacks have passed a firewall. New viruses appear daily, so antivirus software must be updated continuously to maintain effectiveness.

Antispyware

Although antivirus software is designed to prevent malicious software from attacking, the purpose of anti-spyware software is to prevent unauthorized software from stealing and transmitting data that is on the user's hard drive, as well as data that shares the activities of a user. Since spyware does not need to try to damage data files or the operating system, it will not trigger antivirus software in action. However, anti-spyware software can recognize the special action spyware is taking by monitoring communications between a computer and the recipients of external messages. When communications occur that the user has not authorized, antispyware can notify the user and block new communications.

Desktop

Some types of security software operate directly on and exclusively protect individual computer desktops. This category of security software, sometimes referred to as endpoint security, remains resident, or continuously in operation, in the work environment. As the software runs, it uses system resources and can decrease your computer's performance. However, since it operates in real-time, it can react quickly to attacks and try to close them when they occur.

Network Software

Security often operates on a network, rather than on a particular user's desktop. Network security software focuses on identifying security problems before they can affect end-user systems by checking the data that is transmitted through network connectors, such as gateways and routers. Network security software usually runs on network servers or dedicated server systems and therefore does not use the system resources of end-users' desktops.

Pop-up Blocker

Pop-up blocking software is also an essential component of the security scheme. Many viruses are introduced using this inconvenient mechanism, but you can stop the appearance of these unauthorized windows and tabs with strong software to block these elements. Most modern programs of this type are integrated into your preferred browser as an extension to help stop such windows at their source before they have a chance to appear and possibly infect your computer.