ClamAV is an open-source antivirus engine built for Windows environments where lightweight, scriptable scanning and broad file format compatibility are essential. It combines a command-line scanner with a compact, efficient signature database to detect and remove malware across files, archives and mail streams. Community contributions and automated update mechanisms keep detection current without a large desktop footprint. The core components include a CLI scanner for scheduled and on-demand scans, flexible file format support for archives and compressed data, and an optimized virus signature database that balances detection coverage with performance. Administrators can integrate the scanner into automated workflows, schedule scans, and use signature updates to maintain protection on Windows servers and workstations. If you encounter issues, common troubleshooting covers freshclam update failed errors, ways to reduce high CPU usage during intensive scans, and procedures for when an update offline scenario is necessary. Documentation and community forums offer step-by-step guidance for configuring update sources, adjusting scan threads, running manual signature imports and ensuring reliable scheduled updates on Windows systems.

I was skeptical at first, but ClamAV is seriously a lifesaver! Scanned my whole system, and boom—got rid of the junk. This is a total winner! So glad I gave it a shot!