Which term refers to software that harms a computer system without the owner's knowledge?

Malware is a broad term that encompasses various types of malicious software designed to harm, exploit, or otherwise compromise computer systems and networks. This includes any software intentionally programmed to infiltrate or damage devices and data without the consent of the user. Malware can take many forms, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, and spyware.

In contrast, while adware is designed to display advertisements to users, it is not inherently harmful and typically operates with user awareness. Ransomware specifically encrypts a user’s files and demands payment for decryption, making it a subset of malware rather than the encompassing term. Spyware secretly monitors and collects user information, which can be invasive but does not necessarily disrupt the operation of the system in a harmful way.

Thus, malware is the accurate term for software that poses a threat to computer systems without the owner's awareness, as it includes all malicious forms of software, highlighting its broad and harmful nature.