What type of program helps protect a system from malicious applications?

Antivirus and anti-malware programs are specifically designed to detect, prevent, and eliminate malicious software, including viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and ransomware. They perform real-time scanning of files and applications, monitor system behavior for suspicious activities, and provide protection against a wide range of threats that could compromise the security and functionality of a system. Additionally, these programs often receive updates to recognize newly discovered threats, ensuring ongoing protection for the system.

In contrast, firewalls primarily focus on controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, which is essential for preventing unauthorized access but does not actively target malware within applications. Adblockers are specialized tools aimed at blocking intrusive advertisements on websites and do not extend their functionality into the realm of malicious software detection. System optimizers are designed to improve the overall performance of a computer by cleaning up unnecessary files and optimizing settings, but they do not provide any form of protection against malicious applications.