What characteristic is typical of malware?

The characteristic that is typical of malware is its ability to cause harm to computers or data. Malware, which stands for malicious software, encompasses a range of harmful software types, including viruses, worms, ransomware, spyware, and trojans. Each of these types is designed with malicious intent, such as damaging or disabling computers, stealing sensitive information, or encrypting data to extort money from users.

Malware is fundamentally built with the purpose of impact—whether that's to disrupt operations, corrupt data, or gain unauthorized access to systems. Traditionally, its effects can lead to loss of data integrity, reduced performance of devices, and significant security breaches, making the capacity to cause harm a defining feature of malware.

Other options present characteristics that do not align with malware. For instance, malware is not harmless; rather, its very definition is rooted in harmful intent. Additionally, it does not enhance system performance—instead, it typically degrades it. Lastly, while some forms of malware may execute without user consent, they often utilize social engineering tactics to trick users into granting permission, making user consent irrelevant to the harmful nature of malware itself.