Establish "Command and Control" (C2) links to external servers to exfiltrate data.
An .exe file is a compiled set of instructions that the operating system executes with the permissions of the user who launched it. Unlike data files (like .jpg or .txt ), an executable can:
Below is a paper discussing the technical and security implications of downloading executable files from unverified online sources, using "Fira The Games" as a situational case study.
The "Fira" game may function as intended while a hidden background process installs a keylogger or cryptocurrency miner.