What can spyware potentially do to a computer?

• A. Automatically display advertisements
• B. Allow a hacker to control the system
• C. Collect private information about the user
• D. Replace system files with corrupted versions

Answer: (C)

Spyware is a type of malicious software designed to gather information about a person or organization without their consent. It primarily focuses on collecting sensitive data such as browsing habits, personal messages, login credentials, financial details, and even keystrokes, which can be used for identity theft or various forms of exploitation. This background data collection occurs silently and surreptitiously, often without the user’s knowledge.

While other potential activities related to malware, such as displaying advertisements or allowing unauthorized access to a system, exist, the key function of spyware is to monitor and extract private information. This primary intent distinguishes spyware from other forms of malware, as its specific goal is to harvest data for profit or malicious intent rather than to cause immediate disruption or damage to the computer’s system operations.