Contrary to what the name might suggest, antivirus software protects against more than viruses - it just uses a slightly antiquated name to describe what it does.Īnti-malware software is also designed to protect against viruses it just uses a more modern name that encompasses all kinds of malicious software, including viruses. They both refer to computer security software designed to detect, protect against, and remove malicious software. Let's take a deep dive into the world of cybersecurity semantics and unpack these terms one at a time: What's the difference between antivirus and anti-malware?įor the most part, antivirus software and anti-malware software are the same things. Sure, both refer to cybersecurity software, but what do these terms actually mean? What is the difference between antiviruses and anti-malware, and are they both still relevant in dealing with today's online digital threats? At Malwarebytes, we're all for precision - especially when it comes to two commonly confused cybersecurity concepts that get used interchangeably all the time: antivirus and anti-malware.