Malware Types Flashcards

OCR GCSE J277 Computer Science specification

Malware

Malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or otherwise compromise a computer system.

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Terms in this set (10)

1

Malware

Malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or otherwise compromise a computer system.

2

Virus

A type of malware that attaches itself to files or programs and spreads when the infected file or program is opened or executed.

3

Worm

A standalone malware that replicates itself to spread to other computers, often exploiting network vulnerabilities.

4

Trojan

A type of malware disguised as legitimate software, tricking users into installing it to gain unauthorised access to systems.

5

Spyware

Malware that secretly gathers user information, such as passwords or browsing habits, and sends it to the attacker.

6

Adware

Malware that automatically displays or downloads unwanted advertisements, often slowing down the system.

7

Ransomware

Malware that encrypts a user's files and demands payment (ransom) to restore access to the data.

8

Keylogger

A type of spyware that records every keystroke made by a user to capture sensitive information like passwords.

9

Rootkit

Malware designed to gain administrator-level access to a system while hiding its presence from detection.

10

Botnet

A network of infected computers controlled by an attacker, often used to perform large-scale attacks like DDoS.

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