Which term is software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access?

Study for the Certified Bank Secrecy Act Professional Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Malware is software intentionally designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems or data. It spans many forms—viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware—each built to compromise security, steal information, or take control of a device. The core idea is malicious intent aimed at harming or bypassing protections, which matches the description given in the question.

Encryption encodes data to protect it, not to disrupt or damage. Safe Harbor is a legal concept related to liability protection, not a type of software. Online Banking Disruption describes a scenario or outcome, not a category of software, so it doesn’t fit as a term for software designed to harm or intrude.

So the term that fits is malware.