What is the purpose of antimalware software?

The purpose of antimalware software is to protect against malicious software, often referred to as malware. Malware encompasses a variety of harmful software types, including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware, which can compromise system security, steal sensitive information, and disrupt normal operations. Antimalware software actively scans for, detects, and removes these threats to ensure the safety and integrity of a computer system.

By recognizing and neutralizing potential threats before they can cause harm, antimalware plays a critical role in maintaining a secure computing environment. This protection is essential for both individual users and organizations to prevent data breaches, financial loss, and damage to reputation that can arise from malware attacks.