Which term refers to programs or files introduced to a system with malicious intent to destroy or manipulate data?

Which term refers to programs or files introduced to a system with malicious intent to destroy or manipulate data?

• A. Malware
• B. Spyware
• C. Malicious code
• D. Ransomware

Answer: (C)

The central idea here is harmful software that is introduced into a system to damage or alter data. This is best captured by the term malicious code, which emphasizes the actual code or program designed to carry out harmful actions. While malware is the broad umbrella for all kinds of malicious software, including tools that spy (spyware) or lock data for ransom (ransomware), the description focuses on the code itself doing destructive or manipulative tasks, which is precisely what malicious code denotes.

The central idea here is harmful software that is introduced into a system to damage or alter data. This is best captured by the term malicious code, which emphasizes the actual code or program designed to carry out harmful actions. While malware is the broad umbrella for all kinds of malicious software, including tools that spy (spyware) or lock data for ransom (ransomware), the description focuses on the code itself doing destructive or manipulative tasks, which is precisely what malicious code denotes.