Define malware and give two examples.

• A. Malicious software designed to damage or take control of systems; examples include viruses, ransomware, spyware.
• B. Regular software updates that improve performance.
• C. Open source libraries.
• D. A software tool for optimizing system speed.

Answer: (A)

Malware is software that is designed to harm, disrupt, steal data, or take control of a computer without the user’s permission. The definition in this option captures that intent and purpose: it describes malicious software whose goal is damage or control. Two common examples are viruses, which can replicate and spread to other files or systems, and ransomware, which restricts access to data until a ransom is paid. Spyware is another frequent type that secretly collects information without the user’s knowledge, illustrating how malware can surveil and exfiltrate data.

The other options describe legitimate software or tools rather than malicious software. Regular updates are meant to improve performance or security, open source libraries are reusable code for development, and a tool for optimizing system speed is a legitimate utility.