What type of software is intended to achieve administrative control without being detected?

The type of software intended to achieve administrative control without being detected is a rootkit. Rootkits are designed to conceal their presence and the presence of other malicious software on a system, allowing attackers to maintain access and control over a system without the user’s knowledge. They typically work by modifying the operating system or using specialized software techniques to hide their processes, files, and network connections.

Rootkits can provide various forms of control, from accessing sensitive information to executing system commands, all while remaining stealthy. Their effectiveness lies in their ability to operate at a low level within the system, which makes them particularly challenging to detect and remove.

Other software types have different purposes: Trojans often disguise themselves as legitimate software to trick users into installing them, adware primarily serves advertisements and can be annoying but is generally not stealthy, and spyware collects information about users without their consent but does not specifically focus on gaining administrative control. Each of these software types has different characteristics and functions, highlighting the distinct role of rootkits in malicious software.