## Advantages

• Removes virus / malicious software that could delete / edit / destroy data

• Protect against spyware to prevent theft of confidential / personal

information thus preventing unauthorised access to bank accounts leading

to financial loss

• Can help / may protect against spam / phishing emails thus preventing the

divulgence of confidential / personal information

• Protect against identity theft that may be a result of stolen confidential /

personal information

• Protect against redirection of automatic payments (‘stealware’ or

‘chargeware / affiliate fraud’) to help prevent ’click fraud’

• Can help protect / stop unwanted / unauthorised use of computer for cryptocurrency mining

## Disadvantages

• Anti-virus software must be kept up to date in order to combat the most

recent viruses / malicious software

• Anti-virus software must be running all the time so places a performance

‘overhead’ on a computer system that may make the system slow / sluggish

/ unresponsive

• Anti-virus software will not detect all / every instance / type of malicious

software so perpetrators can find ways around it

• ...infected websites use malicious code which is often not picked up by antivirus software.