What does malware primarily aim to do?

Malware primarily aims to alter or damage data on computers, making this the accurate choice. The main purpose of malware is to disrupt normal operations, steal sensitive information, corrupt files, or cause harm in various ways. By targeting the integrity and availability of data, malware can lead to significant issues for individuals and organizations, including financial loss, data breaches, and system downtime.

In contrast, enhancing system performance is not a goal of malware; instead, malware often degrades performance or causes instability. Securing networks from unauthorized access is the objective of security software and protocols, not malware. Similarly, preventing software updates is not a primary function of malware, although some types may attempt to disable updates to avoid detection or maintain their malicious activities. Understanding the primary motivations of malware helps in recognizing and defending against potential threats.