RAV Antivirus is an antiquated security solution developed and published by GeCAD Software. RAV Antivirus would later catch the attention of tech giant Microsoft, and in mid-2003, the company acquired RAV’s technology and development team.
Although it would seem that the story of RAV Antivirus would have ended almost two decades ago, recently, a version of the RAV Antivirus has sprouted up via such methods as software bundling. Because many computer users tend to not pay attention when installing programs from freeware sites and other dubious sources and do not often check the “advanced” or “custom” installation option, they may find that they have unwittingly installed RAV Antivirus.
It is common for users to install adware, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs or PUPs accidentally via software bundling. Although it is not the method of installation that makes all these types of programs a threat, users should remain vigilant when they install new programs from third-party sources, because you can never know what might come bundled with this one program you downloaded.
This latest incarnation of RAV Antivirus has thus far not exhibited any unwanted features, such as spamming or other intrusive behavior, including unwanted advertisements or browser redirects. Its most annoying quality may well be its impact on the user experience on the affected device. Outdated software may cause performance issues and slow down computers. It may also attempt to push the user into buying a paid version.
How Do I Remove RAV Antivirus?
If it was not your intention to install RAV Antivirus, you can scan for and remove its elements using a reputable malware remediation tool. Additionally, users should be cautious when installing new software to ensure you do not install any potentially unwanted programs.