Question

protection and safety

how does anti-virus software protect you when youre online?

it prevents unauthorised access to your wi-fi connection
it protects your device against malware
it protects against theft of personal data from social media

Explanation:

Analyze the core question

The question asks how anti-virus software protects a user when they are online. We need to evaluate the primary function of anti-virus software among the given choices.

Evaluate the first option

The first option states: "It prevents unauthorised access to your Wi-Fi connection." This function is typically handled by network security protocols (like WPA2/WPA3 encryption), router passwords, or firewalls, rather than standard anti-virus software.

Evaluate the second option

The second option states: "It protects your device against malware." Anti-virus software is specifically designed to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software (malware), which includes viruses, trojans, ransomware, and spyware that could infect a device while browsing online. This aligns with Digital Literacy principles regarding device safety.

Evaluate the third option

The third option states: "It protects against theft of personal data from social media." While anti-virus software protects the local device, it cannot directly prevent data breaches or theft of personal data hosted on external social media platforms, which depends on platform security and user privacy settings.

Determine the correct answer

Based on the analysis, the primary and direct function of anti-virus software is to protect the device against malware.

Answer:

• It prevents unauthorised access to your Wi-Fi connection
• It protects your device against malware (Correct answer)
• It protects against theft of personal data from social media