What is the main purpose of antivirus software?

The primary purpose of antivirus software is to detect, prevent, and remove malicious software, which includes viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and other types of malware. This software continuously monitors your system for any signs of malicious activity, scans files and programs for known threats, and uses heuristic analysis to identify and deal with new, unknown malware based on behavior patterns. By doing so, antivirus software plays a crucial role in protecting the integrity of your data and maintaining the security of your system against cyber threats.

Other options present distinct functions that, while important for overall computing security and performance, do not align with the core purpose of antivirus software. Encrypting confidential files protects the data's confidentiality but does not address malware threats. Backing up important data is essential for data recovery but does not prevent or remove threats from the system. Improving system performance relates to optimizing computer speed and efficiency, which is unrelated to the protective measures focused on by antivirus software.