What does malware aim to achieve in a system?

Malware primarily aims to disrupt normal operations of a system, which can include making it inoperable, corrupting or stealing data, and spreading to other systems. The intention behind malware is typically malicious—designed to cause harm, exploit vulnerabilities, or provide unauthorized access to attackers.

When assessing this goal, it's clear that malware is created to compromise the integrity and availability of systems rather than to enhance or protect them. For example, a common type of malware, such as a virus or ransomware, can render data inaccessible until a ransom is paid or irreparably damage system functionality.

The notion of securing data, providing analytics, or improving performance does not align with malware's purpose. Instead, these objectives reflect positive outcomes, whereas malware is fundamentally designed to achieve adverse effects on systems and networks.