Which tool monitors local devices to reduce threats from hostile software?

The effectiveness of anti-malware tools is rooted in their primary function of detecting, preventing, and removing malware from local devices. These tools continuously monitor the system for any suspicious activity that may indicate the presence of harmful software, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. By employing various detection methods—such as signature-based, heuristic, and behavior-based analysis—anti-malware can identify threats in real-time and react accordingly.

In addition, anti-malware software often includes features like scheduled scans, automatic updates, and quarantine capabilities, further enhancing the security of local devices. This proactive approach is crucial because devices like personal computers, servers, and mobile devices are common targets for malware attacks, making the presence of robust anti-malware solutions essential in defending against these threats.

Other tools, while important in their respective areas, do not have the same focus on local device monitoring for hostile software. Network-based intrusion detection systems primarily analyze traffic within networks, data loss prevention tools focus on preventing unauthorized data transfers, and firewalls act as barriers controlling inbound and outbound network traffic, but do not specifically target malware on local devices.