Virus scanning is the process of detecting, identifying, and removing malicious software (malware), such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and other threats, from a computer system, network, or file. It involves using specialized software tools—commonly known as antivirus or anti-malware programs—to scan files, programs, and system memory for known patterns or behaviors associated with malicious activity.
The scanning process typically works by comparing files against a database of known malware signatures (signature-based detection) or by analyzing the behavior of programs in real-time to detect suspicious actions (behavioral or heuristic analysis). Modern virus scanners often combine both methods to improve accuracy and catch both known and emerging threats.
Example:
When you download a file from the internet, your antivirus software may automatically scan it before allowing you to open it. If the file contains a known virus signature or exhibits suspicious behavior (e.g., attempting to modify system files), the scanner will flag it as a threat and either quarantine or delete it to prevent infection.
In enterprise environments, virus scanning is often integrated into broader security solutions, including endpoint protection, email security, and network monitoring. For cloud-based workloads, services like Tencent Cloud's Host Security (CWP) provide automated virus scanning, vulnerability detection, and real-time threat defense to safeguard servers and applications from malware infections. These solutions help ensure that both on-premises and cloud infrastructure remain secure against evolving cyber threats.