What is the primary function of antivirus software?

The primary function of antivirus software is to detect and remove malware. This encompasses a variety of malicious software types, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and other forms of harmful code that can compromise the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data on a system. Antivirus software operates by scanning files and programs for known signatures of malware or anomalous behavior indicative of new or unknown threats. This capability is crucial for safeguarding personal and organizational systems against potential attacks that could lead to data loss, system damage, or unauthorized access.

While antivirus software may have additional features that can contribute to overall system health, such as performing system scans that might indirectly enhance performance by eliminating unnecessary files, those are not its primary purpose. Furthermore, managing user access and monitoring network traffic are responsibilities typically handled by other security solutions, such as identity and access management (IAM) systems or intrusion detection systems (IDS), rather than by antivirus software itself.