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In computing, "quarantine" refers to the isolation of a potentially malicious file or program in a secure, segregated location on a storage device. This process is a key function of antivirus and anti-malware software, designed to prevent the item from running, infecting other files, or causing damage to the system.

How quarantine works

Segregation: When antivirus software detects a suspicious file—such as a virus, worm, or spyware—it moves it to a special folder known as the quarantine zone. This location is typically inaccessible to the operating system and other applications.

Disabling execution: To ensure the quarantined item cannot cause harm, the security software alters it to prevent it from running. This might involve encrypting the file or stripping it of its permissions.

Protection against infection: Once in quarantine, the item is completely isolated and can no longer interact with or infect other files on the computer.

User action: The user can then review the quarantined file and decide whether to delete it permanently or restore it if it is a "false positive" (a legitimate file incorrectly flagged as a threat).