What is required by PCI-DSS requirement 5.3 about anti-virus mechanisms?

PCI-DSS requirement 5.3 focuses on ensuring that anti-virus mechanisms are effective in protecting sensitive cardholder data. The requirement states that the anti-virus solutions must run actively and cannot be disabled or altered without appropriate permission. This is crucial because if users have the ability to disable or alter these protections, it could leave systems vulnerable to malware and attacks that could compromise payment card information.

By ensuring that the anti-virus mechanisms are always operational and only modifiable through secure administrative controls, organizations can maintain a strong defense against malware, which is a critical aspect of safeguarding sensitive data, as mandated by PCI-DSS standards. This requirement helps in maintaining the integrity and security of systems that process payment card transactions.