What is considered software designed to gain access to systems, steal information, or disrupt operations?

The term that refers to software created with the intent to gain unauthorized access to systems, steal information, or disrupt operations is malware. Malware encompasses a broad category of malicious software that includes various types of harmful programs designed to perform illicit activities on computers and networks.

By definition, malware, short for "malicious software," includes adware, spyware, ransomware, and other forms of harmful code. The primary goal of malware is to infiltrate systems, either to extract sensitive data, cause disruption, or maintain control over a targeted system for malicious purposes.

To clarify the context of the other options, adware primarily focuses on displaying advertisements without necessarily compromising system security or user data. Spyware is a specific type of malware that silently collects information from a user’s system, typically without their knowledge, but it does not inherently disrupt operations. Ransomware, while also a type of malware, specifically targets data for ransom, holding it hostage until the victim pays a fee, which is a more targeted form of disruption and extortion.

Thus, the broad definition of malware encompasses a wide range of threats, clearly aligning with the actions described in the question regarding system access, information theft, and operational disruption.