Kaspersky Free provides comprehensive protection against various types of information security threats. Various functions and protection components are available as part of Kaspersky Free to deliver comprehensive protection.
Protection components are designed to protect the computer in real time against various types of information security threats, network attacks, and fraud. Each type of threat is handled by a dedicated protection component.
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 Free up to date, you need to update the databases and application modules used by the application.
What follows is a description of the logic of how the protection components interact when Kaspersky Free 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 Free 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.
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.
System Watcher
The System Watcher component rolls back the changes made to the operating system by malicious or other activity of applications.
The component protects against malware, including:
Disabling this component is not recommended.
Network Attack Blocker
Network Attack Blocker loads at operating system startup and tracks incoming network traffic for activities characteristic of network attacks. When an attempt to attack your computer is detected, Kaspersky Free blocks all network activity from the attacking computer that is aimed at your computer.
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.
Secure connection
Kaspersky Free protects your data on connection to unsecured Wi-Fi networks.