Antivirus Software Bbc Bitesize

| Feature | Antivirus Software | Firewall | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Looks at files on your hard drive. | Looks at network traffic (data packets). | | Function | Scans for known malware signatures. | Blocks unauthorized access (e.g., hackers). | | Analogy | A doctor checking your body for a disease. | A bouncer at the door checking IDs. | | Need | You need both. | You need both. |

What happens if a virus is brand new and has no signature yet? This is where heuristic detection comes in. antivirus software bbc bitesize

| Method | How it works | Limitation | |--------|--------------|-------------| | | Compares files against a database of known virus "signatures" (unique code patterns). | Can’t detect new, unknown viruses (zero-day attacks). | | Heuristic analysis | Looks for suspicious behaviour or code structures typical of malware. | May produce false positives (flagging safe files as harmful). | | Sandbox detection | Runs suspicious files in a secure, isolated environment to see what they do. | Requires more processing power and time. | | Real-time scanning | Checks files as they are opened, downloaded, or executed. | Can slow down system performance. | | Feature | Antivirus Software | Firewall |

In the BBC Bitesize learning modules, students are taught that data security is about maintaining the (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability). | Blocks unauthorized access (e