Malware (or Malicious Software) is any software intentionally designed by cybercriminals (often called “hackers”) to cause disruption to a computer, server, network, leak private information, gain unauthorized access to information or systems, deprive users access to information. (e.g., computer viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware, etc.)
Reference Definition by Techterms.com: Short for Malicious Software, Malware refers to software programs designed to damage or do other unwanted actions on a computer system. In Spanish, “mal” is a prefix that means “bad,” making the term “badware,” which is a good way to remember it (even if you’re not Spanish). Common examples of malware include viruses, worms, trojan horses, and spyware. Viruses, for example, can cause havoc on a computer’s hard drive by deleting files or directory information. Spyware can gather data from a user’s system without the user knowing it. This can include anything from the Web pages a user visits to personal information, such as credit card numbers.
Related Definitions in the Project: The Computer Technology
