Which type of malware can generate illicit income via cryptocurrency and slow down devices?

• A. Spyware
• B. Keyloggers
• C. Coin miners
• D. Overwrite viruses

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is malware that secretly uses someone else’s computing power to mine cryptocurrency and, in doing so, slows the infected device. This kind of malware hijacks CPU/GPU resources to perform mining operations, generating illicit income for the attacker. The heavy resource use often leads to slower performance, higher heat, and faster battery drain. This behavior is distinct from spyware or keyloggers, which focus on secretly capturing data, not mining for profit, and from overwrite viruses, which damage or destroy data. So using the infected computer to mine coins while degrading performance best fits the described scenario.