What Is Malware?

You have probably heard computer people talk about Malware and the damage it can cause. I recently realized that those outside the computer industry are not always familiar with the word. So here is my answer to the frequent question, "What is Malware?"

First, the word "malware" is formed from the words "malicious" and "software." Malware, then is software that performs malicious activities on a computer system, usually without the knowledge of the computer owner or user. Calling something "malware" presupposes a harmful intention on the part of the creator or sender of the software. Malware can harm individual computers, networks or servers.

Second, "malware" is a broad term that includes a number of tactics used to do harm to a computer. It includes computer viruses, worms, spyware, Trojan horses, and dishonest ads. For example, there are now images in advertising (e-mails, newsletters, etc.) that are activated when the communication is opened. Embedded in the images are codes that gather information from your computer and report it back to the sender. Some service providers have now begun to block all images from e-mails.

Third, "malware" is the same as a "computer contaminant"