How do antivirus programs typically identify viruses that are not yet in their database?

Antivirus programs often face the challenge of detecting new and unknown viruses that haven't yet been added to their database of known threats. One effective method they use for this purpose is called heuristic analysis.

Heuristic analysis involves examining the behavior and characteristics of files and programs to identify potential threats, rather than relying solely on a predefined list of known viruses. This method allows the antivirus software to detect malicious activities that resemble that of known viruses by evaluating the code structure, file behavior, and other indicators associated with typical virus activity. By analyzing these factors, the antivirus can flag suspicious files or actions as potential threats even if they haven't been previously encountered.

This proactive approach is crucial for cybersecurity, as it helps protect systems from emerging threats and zero-day vulnerabilities where no immediate updates or patches are available. Therefore, heuristic analysis plays a key role in maintaining a system's security against new and evolving types of malware, making it an essential feature in modern antivirus solutions.