How do user permissions impact the damage caused by malware?

User permissions play a critical role in determining the potential impact and extent of damage that malware can inflict on a system. When considering the way malware operates, it typically runs under the same permissions as the user who executed it. This means that if a user has limited permissions, the malware will also be confined to those limitations. Conversely, if malware is executed by a user with elevated privileges, the malware gains that level of access, significantly increasing the potential for damage, data exfiltration, or system compromise.

This understanding emphasizes the importance of implementing least privilege principles in user permissions. By ensuring that users operate with the minimum necessary permissions, organizations can mitigate the risk posed by malware, as it will have restricted capabilities compared to running under higher privileges. Therefore, user permissions are a vital factor in determining both what malicious actions can be executed and the scope of potential harm from an infection.