Anti-Virus Scanner

Techopedia explains Anti-Virus Scanner

Although many software products now use a windows-type or iconic interface, many anti-virus scanners are still made in a command-line interface. Most anti-virus scanners examine each individual file in a drive and isolate viruses so that they can be removed from the drive. The scanner will typically display its actions in a command-line structure within a display window as it scans the drive.

Anti-virus scanners rely on a virus database that needs to be updated over time. As more viruses and malware programs are created, anti-virus software makers incorporate them into their scanners and programs. Without an updated database, an anti-virus scanner will be much less effective and less likely to successfully quarantine viruses on a drive.