What is a potential effect of a computer virus on a system?

A computer virus can have severe and detrimental effects on a system, making the identification of its potential impact crucial for understanding computer security. When a computer becomes infected with a virus, it can corrupt files, meaning that the data stored on the system may become unreadable or unusable. This can lead to the loss of important information or operational disruptions for businesses.

Additionally, a virus often has capabilities to steal personal information from users. This can include sensitive data such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other private information, leading to identity theft and financial loss. Furthermore, viruses can cause systems to become disabled or inoperable, rendering them unable to function correctly or at all. This can result in significant downtime for individuals and organizations, impacting productivity and efficiency.

In contrast, the other options presented, such as increasing processing speed, enhancing the user interface, or backing up data automatically, do not align with the typical behaviors associated with computer viruses. Rather than providing any benefits to the user or enhancing system capabilities, viruses are primarily designed to cause harm and disrupt normal operations.