What does antivirus software primarily do?

• A. Automatically updates software on your computer
• B. Blocks unsolicited emails from reaching inbox
• C. Detects and removes malware from your system
• D. Improves internet browsing speed

Answer: (C)

Antivirus software primarily focuses on detecting, preventing, and removing malware from a computer system. This includes various types of malicious software such as viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware. The software works by scanning files and programs on the device, looking for known signatures or behaviors associated with malware. Once identified, the software can quarantine or remove the malicious files to protect the integrity of the system and the user's data.

While the other options might touch on aspects of computer security or performance, they do not define the primary function of antivirus software. For instance, automatically updating software is a function of system maintenance, while blocking unsolicited emails pertains to spam filters or email security rather than antivirus. Improving internet browsing speed relates more to network optimization than to security measures. Thus, the core role of antivirus software is distinctly centered on creating a safe computing environment by removing or neutralizing harmful software threats.