What is meant by Virus definition update?
A virus definition update refers to the process of updating the database of antivirus programs with new information about known viruses and malware. These updates include new virus signatures, heuristics, and other detection methods to enhance the effectiveness of antivirus software and protect computer systems from new threats.
Typical functions of software in the area of virus definition update include:
- Regular Updates: Automatically or manually updating virus definitions at regular intervals to stay prepared against new threats.
- Updating Virus Signatures: Adding new virus signatures and patterns to the database of antivirus software to detect newly discovered viruses.
- Heuristic Updates: Updating heuristic analysis methods to identify potentially harmful programs that do not have known signatures.
- Deployment of Security Patches: Applying patches and updates to close known security vulnerabilities and improve system resilience.
- Update Notifications: Providing notifications to users about available updates and guidance on performing the update.