Quarantine

Quarantine is a computer security term referring to isolating a system or file from other parts of a network or computer. It is generally used to separate an infected or potentially malicious file from the clean parts of the computer or network. By placing the possibly malicious file in quarantine, users will be protected from any potential harm to their system, while the threat can be further analyzed.

In the past, quarantine was often an all-or-nothing proposition, which often meant having to delete any potentially malicious software from the computer or network. However, with the improvement of antivirus solutions and other security measures, quarantine is often now a much more common option.

When a file is quarantined, the antivirus software or other security software will create a quarantine area, where it will be temporarily stored. This area can be accessed directly from the security software and can be examined from the user’s perspective. After the antivirus software or other security software has had the opportunity to examine the files, the user can decide if it needs to be deleted or released from quarantine. Quarantined files can also be inspected manually to determine the degree of safety of the file.

Quarantine can also be used to protect a computer or network from malicious software. Quarantining a computer or network will prevent malicious software from spreading throughout the system or network, and also limit the ability of malware to access other areas of the system. This can help prevent both malicious software and non-malicious applications from harming the system, as well as stopping the spread of malware to other machines or networks.

By offering the option of quarantine, security software offers users more options when dealing with malicious or potentially dangerous software and files. This feature can help ensure the safety of the system and those using it, as well as protect the system and network from future attacks.