What is malware?

Definition

Malware is a kind of software that can cause harm to computers and networks. They often compromise computers after being downloaded from email attachments or untrustworthy websites, transferred from removable devices like USB’s, or coordinated as hacking attacks on a computer network.

These harmful computer programs may harm the user by illegally collecting information from their computer, redirecting them to dangerous websites, or simply making their computer behave unusually.

It is important to distinguish between viruses and malware since the term virus is used interchangeably with malware. A virus is a specific kind of malware whereas, the term ​malware refers to all different types of harmful programs, including viruses.

Symptoms and Prevention

The presence of malware is often indicated by poor computer performance, mysterious appearances or disappearances of files, or generally unusual behavior by the computer. To prevent infections:

• A computer should have a decent antivirus program and firewall installed.
• Users should be wary of downloading attachments from emails or software from unofficial websites.
• Pirated software should be avoided.
• Removable storage devices should be used with caution.