What type of software is designed to detect and remove malware?

Antivirus software is specifically engineered to identify, prevent, and eliminate malware, which includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and other malicious software. This type of software continually scans the system for known threats using signature-based detection, and it also employs heuristic analysis to catch new or evolving malware that may not yet have a recognized signature.

In addition to detection and removal capabilities, antivirus software often provides real-time protection by monitoring the system for suspicious activities, ensuring that malware can be dealt with promptly before it causes harm. Some antivirus solutions also feature additional functionalities, such as web protection, email scanning, and phishing protection to enhance overall security.

Other types of software serve different purposes. For instance, firewall software acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, controlling incoming and outgoing traffic but not specifically targeting malware detection. Spyware software focuses on monitoring user activities without consent, and data recovery software is designed to restore lost or corrupted data rather than combat malware threats. Thus, antivirus software stands out as the specialized tool for malware detection and removal.