Which of the following would NOT be considered one of the three commonly cited malware types in this material?

• A. Spyware
• B. Virus
• C. Worm
• D. Ransomware

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is how malware is categorized by its spread and purpose. In this material, the three commonly cited types are those defined by propagation and payload behavior, such as self-replicating malware (virus), network-spreading malware (worm), and a modern payload-focused category (ransomware). Spyware doesn’t fit into that three because its defining feature is covertly gathering information from a system rather than how it spreads or what direct payload it delivers. It’s a surveillance-focused class of malware, not one of the traditional propagation-based trio.

Think of it this way: a virus infects and replicates, a worm spreads across networks, and ransomware encrypts data to extort payment. Spyware’s primary goal is hidden data collection, so it isn’t counted among the three commonly cited types in this material.