malware

American  

[mal-wair] / ˈmælˌwɛər /

noun

Digital Technology.

malwares plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• malwares
  plural

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

See Examples For:

malware

The FSB's Centre 16 has previously been accused by Western intelligence agencies of using malware for decades to try to gain access to spy on countries around the globe.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

The U.K. also announced sanctions against hackers responsible for Lumma Stealer, malware that sucks up sensitive information from devices it infects.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

DNS leak protection is built in, and there’s also CleanWeb, Surfshark’s ad and malware blocker that works system-wide.

From Salon ● Jun. 17, 2026

Spear phishing is when hackers send personalised messages to individuals to trick them into installing malware or revealing sensitive information.

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

Harmless-looking digital images that contain malware are yet another.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield