Which of the following is NOT a function of anti-virus software?

The function of anti-virus software primarily revolves around detecting, preventing, and removing malicious software such as viruses and malware. It performs actions like scanning files and programs for known threats, allowing users to mitigate risks associated with malware infections.

Removing malware is a fundamental capability of anti-virus software, which identifies harmful programs that may already be present on the system, isolates them, and removes them to ensure the system's safety.

The scanning for viruses is a critical function as well, where the software reviews files and applications to identify and flag those that may contain viruses based on known signatures or behavior patterns.

While some anti-virus solutions may include features that allow for software updates, the primary role of anti-virus software is not centered around automatically updating the software itself. Instead, providing a firewall is typically a function associated with dedicated firewall solutions rather than anti-virus programs. A firewall protects a network by monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules, which is distinct from the core functionalities of anti-virus applications.

Thus, when considering the essential roles of anti-virus software, automatic updates stand out as not being a direct function of such programs, making it the correct choice in this context.