OCR GCSE Computer Science Complete Practice Exam 2026

The term that encompasses various types of malicious software designed to infiltrate and damage computers is "malware." This designation includes, but is not limited to, infections such as viruses, worms, trojan horses, and ransomware. The primary characteristic of malware is its harmful intent; it is programmed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.

While spyware, adware, and ransomware are all specific types of malware, they each have distinct characteristics. Spyware is primarily focused on gathering user information without their knowledge, adware displays unwanted advertisements, often causing disruptions, and ransomware specifically locks users out of their data or files until a ransom is paid. Therefore, the broader category that includes all these harmful types is best defined as malware.