What kind of security threat does malware posing as legitimate software represent?

Malware that poses as legitimate software is classified as a Trojan horse. This type of malware disguises itself as a trustworthy application to deceive users into downloading and executing it. Once installed, it can perform malicious activities, such as stealing data, creating backdoors for further exploitation, or delivering additional malicious payloads.

The defining characteristic of a Trojan horse is its ability to trick users into thinking it is safe, because it is packaged as a legitimate or beneficial program. Users may believe they are installing a game, a tool, or an update when, in fact, they are opening their system to security threats. Unlike viruses and worms, which can self-replicate, Trojans rely on human interaction for installation and execution.

This classification differentiates it from other options, such as Malware-as-a-Service, which refers to a model where malware is offered as a service, often for profit. Phishing, on the other hand, involves deceptive communications aimed at tricking users into revealing sensitive information, and ransomware specifically encrypts a user’s files and demands a ransom for their recovery. Each of these alternatives represents a different aspect of cyber threats, but the hallmark of a Trojan horse remains its method of disguise as innocuous software, leading to unauthorized access or damage