Which of the following describes how most anti-virus products work?

Most anti-virus products primarily operate by using signatures to compare the contents of files on a system to known viruses. This method involves maintaining a database of known malware signatures, which are unique strings of data or specific patterns found within malicious files. When the anti-virus software scans a system, it checks the files against this signature database to identify any potential threats. If a match is found, the software can take action, such as quarantining or deleting the infected file.

This signature-based approach is effective for detecting known threats, as it relies on a catalog of previously identified viruses and their characteristics. However, it does have limitations, particularly with new, unknown viruses or variants that have not yet been added to the database. Nevertheless, it remains a fundamental mechanism employed by most anti-virus solutions in their detection processes.