What is the primary purpose of using a bootable AV tool?

The primary purpose of using a bootable antivirus (AV) tool is to perform full system scans without booting into the operating system. This is particularly important in scenarios where traditional scanning could be hindered by malware that hides from the operating system or interferes with the normal operation of antivirus programs. By booting from a separate, clean environment, the tool can operate independently of the potentially infected OS, thereby increasing the likelihood of detecting and removing persistent threats that may not be detectable during a standard boot.

A bootable AV tool can scan all parts of the system, including the system files and boot sector, without interference from the malware itself, which may be active during a typical operating session. This comprehensive scanning capability is crucial for effectively identifying and eliminating deeply embedded infections that might evade regular detection methods.

While monitoring real-time traffic, removing infections, and enhancing network security protocols are important aspects of overall cybersecurity solutions, they do not capture the unique function of a bootable AV tool, which is focused on scanning and cleaning infections before the system is operational.