What type of malware disguises itself as legitimate software?

The type of malware that disguises itself as legitimate software is a Trojan horse. Trojans are designed to appear harmless or beneficial to the user, often masquerading as useful applications or tools. This deception encourages users to install or execute the software, believing it to be safe. Once activated, a Trojan can perform malicious actions without the user’s knowledge, such as stealing information, creating backdoors for further exploitation, or downloading additional malicious components.

In contrast, viruses attach themselves to legitimate programs and replicate when the host program is run, while worms spread independently over networks without the need for a host. Spyware, on the other hand, is specifically designed to gather information about a person or organization without their consent, often without disguising its intent, as it focuses more on stealthy data collection rather than imitation. Therefore, a Trojan horse is distinctive for its ability to disguise itself effectively, creating a false sense of security for users.