What is a potential consequence of not regularly updating antivirus software?

Regularly updating antivirus software is crucial because new malware is constantly being developed and distributed. When antivirus programs are updated, they incorporate the latest virus definitions and threat intelligence, which enhances their capability to identify and mitigate newly emerging threats.

If antivirus software is not updated, it may lack these essential definitions, leading to a decreased ability to detect new malware. As a result, the system remains vulnerable to infections from the latest viruses or malicious software, potentially compromising security, data integrity, and privacy.

In contrast, the other options do not logically follow from failing to update antivirus software. For instance, higher network speeds, increased storage space, and improved system performance relate more to system hardware or optimization processes rather than the effectiveness of antivirus software. Only the lack of updates can lead to inadequate detection of new threats, emphasizing the importance of regular updates in maintaining a robust defense against malware.