Which of the following can indicate a potential malware infection?

Indicating a potential malware infection involves recognizing certain behaviors or characteristics of files within a system. The choice referring to "unknown file types" is particularly significant because unknown or unfamiliar file types can often be a red flag for malware. Malware authors frequently use obscure or non-standard file extensions to disguise harmful files as benign ones. When users encounter a file type they do not recognize, or if the file type deviates from established norms, it may suggest that the file is part of a malicious payload or could lead to harmful software executing on the system.

The presence of unknown file types suggests that they have not been created by standard applications or recognized programs, increasing the likelihood that they are designed to evade detection by typical security measures. Recognizing such anomalies is crucial in proactive malware detection and prevention strategies.