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Antivirus software searches the hard disk of a computer to identify, neutralize or eliminate malicious
software, such as computer viruses, or malware, such as worms, phishing attacks, rootkits and Trojans.
Antivirus software scans files to look for known viruses that match definitions in a virus dictionary.
It also looks for suspicious behavior from any computer program that might indicate that there has been
an infection. Most antivirus programs include an auto-update feature that checks for profiles of newly
created viruses to add to the virus dictionary.
Given the growth of computer viruses and malware, antivirus software should be installed on any computer
used by teleworkers if they access files from USB drives, diskettes, or access the internet, even if just
for web surfing and email. For maximum protection, teleworkers should have their antivirus software
enabled at all times, and they should use the software in combination with a firewall. In addition,
most security problems can be avoided by keeping browser and OS software updated with the latest security
patches.
Antivirus software is generally easy to install and use, and is a good tool for locating and deleting
computer viruses from a teleworker's computer. Most antivirus software vendors update their virus
databases so your teleworkers can protect themselves against the latest viruses. If not kept up-to-date
with the latest virus signatures, antivirus software becomes less effective and potentially useless.
Be aware that some antivirus software can reduce system performance. Teleworkers may be tempted to
disable antivirus software to eliminate the performance issues, increasing chances for infection.
Antivirus software will not protect against unwanted features in programs you choose to install, spam,
fraud or criminal activity, or internet attacks, such as hackers trying to break into a teleworker's
computer over the internet.
Look for these features in antivirus software:
- Frequency and responsiveness of signature updates
- Identification of viruses and worms
- Cleaning or isolating infected files
- Activity reports
- Ease of setup and use
- Level and quality of help documentation and tech support
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