Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity Practice Exam

What type of malware is designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems?

1. Ransomware

2. Adware

3. Malware

4. Spyware

The correct answer is: Malware

The term "malware" is a broad classification that encompasses any software specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. This includes a wide variety of malicious programs, such as viruses, worms, ransomware, adware, and spyware. The correct answer highlights the overarching category that includes other specific types of malware aiming at various harmful activities. In this context, ransomware refers specifically to malware that encrypts files and demands payment for the decryption key, while adware typically tracks user behavior to display targeted advertisements. Spyware is designed to secretly monitor user activity and collect information without the user’s knowledge. While all these terms represent specific types of malware, the term "malware" itself is inclusive and captures the essence of potentially harmful software as a whole. Thus, identifying malware as the correct answer emphasizes its role as a category under which these specific types fall.