________ is malware that tries to convince you that your computer is infected with a virus.

Malware

Software that’s intended to render a system temporarily or permanently useless or to penetrate a computer system completely for purposes of information gathering. Examples include spyware, viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.

Virus Infection

The process by which a computer virus attaches itself to a software program or file, enabling it to spread from one computer to another, leading to potential data corruption or system failure.