# Module 7. Malware Threats With the help of a malicious application (malware), an attacker gains access to stored passwords in a computer and is able to read personal documents, delete files, display pictures, or messages on the screen, slow down computers, steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud. Malware can perform various malicious activities that range from simple email advertising to complex identity theft and password stealing. Programmers develop malware and use it to: * Attack browsers and track websites visited * Affect system performance, making it very slow * Cause hardware failure, rendering computers inoperable * Steal personal information, including contacts * Erase valuable information, resulting in substantial data losses * Attack additional computer systems directly from a compromised system * Spam inboxes with advertising emails ### How to Setup Malware Analysis Lab {% embed url="" %} How to setup Flare VM {% endembed %} --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://ceh-practical.cavementech.com/module-7.-malware-threats.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.