Business Security Information

Malware is a term you hear a lot in the security field, and I am not always sure if everyone understands what the term means.  Malware is basically a generic term used to describe a variety of bad software that is meant to damage, annoy, or infiltrate a computer or network without the user’s consent or knowledge.  Malware includes software such as viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, rootkits, adware, crimeware and any other type of malicious software.

The term “malware” is short for malicious software.  The prefix mal in Spanish means bad, thus making the term badware an easy way to remember what malware means.  There are no specific features that software must have to be considered malware.  The determination is based more on the perceived intent of the software programmer (i.e. what the software is going to be used for).  Just remember that defective software that you purchase is not the same as malware.  Lastly, malware is usually spread to users through the internet either via websites or e-mail.

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2. Spyware
3. Trojan Horse