Which of the following is a consequence of malware?

Data loss is a significant consequence of malware attacks. When malware infiltrates a system, it can corrupt, delete, or steal data, leading to partial or complete loss of important information. This loss may occur due to various types of malware, such as ransomware that encrypts files and demands payment for their release, or viruses that can delete files outright. Protecting against such outcomes is essential to maintaining the integrity and availability of data.

The other options do not directly relate to the consequences of malware. Layered defenses refer to a proactive security strategy involving multiple overlapping protective measures, multifactor authentication is an authentication method that increases security by requiring multiple verification steps, and masking pertains to obscuring data to protect sensitive information. While these can help mitigate the risks associated with malware, they are not consequences of the malware itself.