malware

American  

[mal-wair] / ˈmælˌwɛər /

noun

Digital Technology.

1. software intended to damage a computer, mobile device, computer system, or computer network, or to take partial control over its operation.

   tips on finding and removing viruses, spyware, and other malware.

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malware British  

/ ˈmælwɛə /

noun

1. a computer program designed specifically to damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus

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malware Scientific  

/ măl′wâr′ /

1. Software that is written and distributed for malicious purposes, such as impairing or destroying computer systems. Computer viruses are malware.

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Etymology

Origin of malware

First recorded in 1990–95; mal(icious) + -ware

Explanation

Look out! Computer programs that are intended to cause harm or damage your computer are malware. Viruses and spyware are common types of malware. Malware is a code or file that's meant to injure computer users by stealing their data, secretly monitoring their activity, or harming the computer itself. The term malware, which was first used in 1997, is short for "malicious software." If your computer has a firewall or antivirus software, that's your protection against malware. You can also avoid it by not clicking on mysterious links sent from unknown email addresses.

Example Sentences

Apple devices, which have generally been less targeted by malware than Windows ones, also include a malware scanning tool called XProtect as well as a Malware Removal Tool.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2022

Malware and cybercriminals are only making quarantine more miserable for computer owners.

From Fox News • Apr. 24, 2020

Malware attacks are extremely common, affecting millions of computers in homes, offices and other organizations every day, said Salim Neino, chief executive of the company Kryptos Logic.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2018

Malware generally infiltrates networks via email attachments that users click on in error.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2017

Malware Museum is an online collection put together by Mikko Hermanni Hyppönen, chief resource officer at Finnish security firm F-secure, featuring emulated versions of a number of MS-DOS viruses from the 1980s and 1990s.

From The Verge • Feb. 8, 2016