Kaspersky Anti-Virus

This section describes the functions, components, and distribution kit of Kaspersky Anti-Virus, and provides a list of hardware and software requirements of Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

About Kaspersky Anti-Virus

Kaspersky Anti-Virus provides comprehensive protection against various types of information security threats. Various functions and protection components are available as part of Kaspersky Anti-Virus to deliver comprehensive protection.

Computer Protection

Protection components are designed to protect the computer against various types of information security threats, network attacks, and fraud. Every type of threat is handled by an individual protection component (see the description of components in this section). You can enable and disable protection components, and configure their settings.

In addition to the real-time protection provided by the security components, we recommend that you regularly scan your computer for viruses and other malware. This is necessary in order to prevent any possible spreading of malicious programs that have not been discovered by protection components, for example, because a low security level was set or for other reasons.

To keep Kaspersky Anti-Virus up to date, you need to update the databases and application modules used by the application.

Some specific tasks that should be run occasionally (such as removal of traces of a user's activities in the operating system) are performed by using advanced tools and wizards.

The following protection components stand guard over your computer in real time:

What follows is a description of the logic of how the protection components interact when Kaspersky Anti-Virus has been set to the mode that is recommended by Kaspersky Lab specialists (in other words, with the default application settings).

File Anti-Virus

File Anti-Virus prevents infection of the computer's file system. The component starts upon startup of the operating system, continuously remains in the computer's RAM, and scans all files that are opened, saved, or launched on your computer and all connected drives. Kaspersky Anti-Virus intercepts each attempt to access a file and scans the file for known viruses and other malware. Further access to the file is allowed only if the file is not infected or is successfully disinfected by the application. If a file cannot be disinfected for any reason, it is deleted. A copy of the file is moved to Quarantine when that happens. If an infected file is placed in the same location where the deleted file with the same name used to be, Quarantine saves only a copy of the last file. A copy of the previous file with the same name is not saved.

Mail Anti-Virus

Mail Anti-Virus scans incoming and outgoing email messages on your computer. An email message is available to the recipient only if it does not contain dangerous objects.

Web Anti-Virus

Web Anti-Virus intercepts and blocks the execution of scripts on websites if they pose a threat. Web Anti-Virus also monitors all web traffic and blocks access to dangerous websites.

IM Anti-Virus

IM Anti-Virus ensures the safe use of IM clients. The component protects information that comes to your computer via IM protocols. IM Anti-Virus ensures safe operation of various applications for instant messaging.

Network Monitor

Network Monitor is designed for monitoring network activity in real time.

System Watcher

The System Watcher component rolls back the changes made to the operating system by malware. The component protects against malware, including exploits, screen lockers, and encryptors that encrypt data and extort ransom for restoring files to their original state. Disabling this component is not recommended.

Anti-Phishing

Anti-Phishing allows checking URLs to find out if they are included in the list of phishing URLs. This component is built into Web Anti-Virus and IM Anti-Virus.

On-Screen Keyboard

On-Screen Keyboard prevents interception of data entered on the hardware keyboard and protects personal data against interception attempts that use screen shots.

Protection for all devices

If a computer has Kaspersky Anti-Virus installed, you can manage protection of this computer remotely from My Kaspersky portal.

Participating in the Protect a Friend program

Participation in the Protect a Friend program allows you to receive bonus points when you share links to Kaspersky Anti-Virus with your friends. You can exchange your bonus points for a bonus activation code for Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Secure connection

Kaspersky Anti-Virus protects your data on connection to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.

What's new

Kaspersky Anti-Virus provides the following new features:

• Tutorials for the main application components available in the main window have been added.
• Application upgrade in the background mode has been improved. You no longer have to accept the terms of the End User License Agreement again during the upgrade unless those terms have been changed.
• Mail Anti-Virus has been improved. The default level of heuristic analysis has been increased to medium.

Distribution kit

You can purchase the application in one of the following ways:

• Boxed. Distributed via stores of our partners.
• At the eStore. Distributed at online stores of Kaspersky Lab (for example, http://www.kaspersky.com, in the Online Shop section) or via partner companies.

If you purchase the boxed version of the application, the distribution kit contains the following items:

• Sealed envelope with the setup CD, which contains application files and documentation files
• Brief User Guide, with an activation code
• License Agreement, which stipulates the terms on which you can use the application

The content of the distribution kit may differ depending on the region in which the application is distributed.

If you purchase Kaspersky Anti-Virus at an online store, you copy the application from the website of the store. Information that is required for activating the application, including an activation code, will be sent to you by email after your payment has been received.

Hardware and software requirements

General requirements:

• 920 MB free disk space on the hard drive
• Processor that supports the SSE2 instruction set
• CD-/DVD-ROM (for installing from the installation CD)
• Internet access (for the application installation and activation, for the use of Kaspersky Security Network, and for updating databases and application modules)
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 or later

  To access My Kaspersky portal, we recommend using Microsoft Internet Explorer 9.0 or later.

• Microsoft Windows Installer 3.0 or later
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4 or later

Requirements for Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (Service Pack 3 or later), Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service Pack 3 or later), and Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (Service Pack 2 or later):

• Processor with a clock speed of 1 GHz or higher
• 512 MB free RAM

Requirements for Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista Business (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 7 Starter (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (Service Pack 1 or later), Microsoft Windows 8, Microsoft Windows 8 Pro, Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise, Microsoft Windows 8.1 (Windows 8.1 Update), Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro (Windows 8.1 Update), Microsoft Windows 8.1 Enterprise (Windows 8.1 Update), Microsoft Windows 10 Home (TH1, TH2, RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, RS5), Microsoft Windows 10 Enterprise (TH1, TH2, RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, RS5), and Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (TH1, TH2, RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4, RS5):

• Processor with a clock speed of 1 GHz or higher
• 1 GB free RAM (for 32-bit operating systems); 2 GB free RAM (for 64-bit operating systems)

Supported browsers:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, and 11.0

  Internet Explorer 8 – 11 browser with the new Windows user interface is not supported.

• Microsoft Edge versions 20.x – 25.x or later
• Mozilla Firefox versions 52.x – 60.x or later
• Mozilla Firefox ESR 52.x
• Google Chrome versions 44.x – 52.x

  Kaspersky Anti-Virus supports Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox in 32-bit and in 64-bit operating systems.

Requirements for tablet computers:

• Microsoft Tablet PC
• Intel Celeron processor with a clock speed of 1.66 GHz or faster
• 1000 MB free RAM

Requirements for netbooks:

• Intel Atom CPU 1.60 GHz or faster
• 1024 MB free RAM
• 10.1-inch display with 1024x600 screen resolution
• Intel GMA 950 graphics core