What is the primary purpose of antivirus software?

The primary purpose of antivirus software is to detect, prevent, and remove malware, including viruses, spyware, and trojans. Antivirus programs are specifically designed to identify malicious software that can harm a computer system or compromise data integrity. By scanning files and programs for signature patterns associated with known threats, antivirus software acts as a protective layer against various types of malware. It continuously monitors the system for suspicious activities and can take preventative actions such as quarantining or deleting infected files.

Given this context, the other options focus on different functionalities that are not the main role of antivirus software. Speeding up processing power is associated with performance optimization tools, creating backup copies of files pertains to data backup solutions, and monitoring network traffic is typically the function of network security tools like firewalls or intrusion detection systems. Each of these plays an essential role in the overall security posture, but they do not substitute for the specific purpose of antivirus software, which is dedicated to combating malware threats.