Antivirus is a software program designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, commonly known as malware, from a computer system. It helps protect the computer from viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and other types of malware that can harm the system, steal personal information, or disrupt normal operations. Antivirus software typically scans files, emails, websites, and other data for known patterns or signatures of malware, and also uses behavioral analysis and heuristics to identify suspicious activities. It is an essential tool for maintaining the security and integrity of a computer system.