What is the purpose of antivirus software?

Antivirus software is specifically designed to detect, prevent, and remove malware from computers and networks. Its primary function is to protect systems from a variety of malicious threats, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. By continuously scanning files and monitoring system behavior, antivirus programs can identify and eliminate potential threats before they can cause harm.

The capability to detect malware involves recognizing known patterns and signatures associated with harmful software, while the preventive aspect includes real-time protection that blocks malware attempts to infiltrate the system. Additionally, removal refers to the software's ability to clean up systems that have already been compromised.

In context, while enhancing system speed, performing data backups, and managing user access controls are important functions in broader IT security and system management, they do not align directly with the core purpose of antivirus software, which is centralized around malware protection and management.