What is cleaning virus?

A cleaning virus typically refers to a form of malware designed to remove or disable other malicious software on a computer system. It can be used to mask the presence of a more harmful virus by eliminating competition. While it may seem beneficial, it often serves the interests of cybercriminals by ensuring their malware remains undetected or operational. In some cases, the term may also refer to a legitimate program that cleans up viruses, but caution is advised as it could be a guise for malicious activity.