What does on-access scanning in security software do?

On-access scanning in security software is designed to provide real-time protection by scanning files as they are accessed. This means that when a user opens or executes a file or program, the security software performs a check to determine if the file is safe. This allows it to detect and block potential threats immediately, preventing malware from being introduced to the system at the moment when the file is accessed.

This proactive approach is a critical component of modern security solutions, as it helps to mitigate risks associated with opening potentially harmful files without requiring user intervention or scheduling scans at a later time. By catching threats at the moment of access, on-access scanning helps maintain system integrity and safeguards users from potential security breaches.