What is software designed to damage a computing system?

The term that describes software designed to damage a computing system is malware. This term encompasses a wide range of harmful software, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and threats that can disrupt functionality, steal sensitive information, or otherwise compromise system integrity. Malware is intentionally crafted to exploit vulnerabilities, often leading to severe damages to both individual users and organizations.

While the other terms refer to specific types of malicious software, they fit under the broader category of malware. Adware typically displays unwanted advertisements and may collect user data for marketing purposes but is not primarily intended to cause damage. Spyware focuses on monitoring user activity and harvesting personal information without consent, rather than directly damaging the system. Trojans are a type of malware that disguise themselves as legitimate software but can create security holes or wreak havoc once activated. However, the umbrella term that captures all of these threats, including those that cause direct harm, is malware, making it the most accurate answer in this context.