What are the potential consequences of a malware infection on a computer system?
A malware infection on a computer system can have various negative consequences. It can lead to data loss or theft, unauthorized access to sensitive information, financial loss due to fraudulent activities, and damage to the system's functionality. Malware infections can also result in compromised system performance, frequent crashes, and disruptions of normal operations. It is crucial to take appropriate measures to prevent and mitigate these potential consequences by implementing robust security measures and regularly backing up important data.
Once a computer system is infected with malware, the attacker gains unauthorized access to the compromised system, allowing them to steal valuable personal and financial information, such as credit card details, login credentials, and social security numbers. This information can then be sold on the dark web or used for identity theft and fraudulent activities. Furthermore, the malware can enable the attacker to gain control over the infected system, turning it into a botnet that can be used to launch large-scale distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks or distribute spam emails.