Oxford, Cambridge and RSA (OCR) GCSE Computer Science Practice Exam

The main purpose of spyware is to collect user information without their knowledge. This malicious software operates stealthily in the background, monitoring and gathering data such as browsing habits, personal information, and financial details. By doing this unnoticed, it can significantly compromise privacy and security, often leading to identity theft or unauthorized access to accounts.

In contrast, while displaying unwanted advertisements is a function of adware (a related but distinct type of malware), it does not directly relate to the primary aim of spyware. Creating a denial of service involves overwhelming a system, making it unreachable, which is not a characteristic of spyware either. Facilitating remote access typically describes a type of malware known as a remote access Trojan (RAT), which also differs from spyware’s primary purpose. Thus, the correct answer accurately identifies the fundamental role of spyware in the realm of cybersecurity threats.