Anti-malware is a cybersecurity software solution designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software (malware) from computer systems and networks. It serves as a critical component within network and infrastructure security frameworks, providing continuous protection against cyber threats that attempt to compromise system integrity, data confidentiality, and operational availability.

Modern anti-malware applications employ multiple detection methodologies to identify threats. These include signature-based scanning for known malware such as viruses, worms, and Trojans, as well as heuristic analysis and behavioral monitoring for detecting previously unseen threats like zero-day exploits, ransomware, spyware, and adware. Beyond detection, anti-malware systems perform comprehensive remediation by quarantining suspicious files, neutralizing active infections, and restoring affected components to a secure state—essential functions for maintaining robust defense across endpoints and organizational infrastructures.