What is the role of anti-malware software?

The role of anti-malware software is to detect and remove malicious software, which includes viruses, worms, spyware, trojans, and ransomware. This type of software scans the system for known malware signatures and also utilizes heuristic analysis to identify new or unknown threats. By effectively identifying and eliminating these types of malicious software, anti-malware solutions help protect systems from attacks that can result in data loss, unauthorized access, or system damage.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary function of anti-malware software. Enhancing computer speed, monitoring network traffic for performance metrics, and maintaining system hardware are not core responsibilities of anti-malware. Their focus lies elsewhere, while anti-malware software is specifically designed to safeguard systems against malicious threats.