What is the role of antivirus software in relation to privacy protection?

Antivirus software primarily serves to identify and remove viruses and malware from computers and networks. This is crucial for privacy protection because malicious software can compromise personal data, including sensitive information such as passwords, financial data, and personal communications. By detecting and eliminating these threats, antivirus software helps to safeguard users' privacy by ensuring that their data remains confidential and secure from unauthorized access.

While other options may play a role in privacy or security, they do not accurately capture the primary function of antivirus software. For instance, creating secure networks typically involves firewalls and encryption rather than antivirus tools. Hiding an IP address is usually associated with VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), which focus on anonymity and geographical location privacy. Monitoring credit activity pertains to financial services that track users' credit scores and activities but does not relate to what antivirus software specifically does. Therefore, identifying and removing viruses and malware is the essential role of antivirus software in maintaining privacy protection.