What is the primary purpose of antivirus software?

The primary purpose of antivirus software is to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software. This functionality is essential for protecting computers and networks from threats such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Antivirus software continuously scans system files and memory for known malware signatures and monitors system behavior for potential threats, ensuring that any malicious software is identified and dealt with promptly.

Furthermore, antivirus software often includes real-time protection, which means it actively watches for suspicious activity and can thwart attacks before they compromise the system. By fulfilling this critical role of safeguarding data and maintaining the integrity of the operating system, antivirus solutions are a vital component in any security strategy for individuals and organizations alike.

While running system diagnostics, enhancing performance, and managing network traffic are all important aspects of computer maintenance and security, they do not relate specifically to the primary function of antivirus software, which is focused on combatting malware threats.