malware

malware
n.
Computer viruses and other software designed to damage or disrupt a system. Also: mal-ware.
— adj.
Example Citations:
As organizations rely on documents and e-mail to store mission-critical information, that data will require a higher level of protection. However, groupware environments such as Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes — which facilitate the storage and sharing of this data — can spread viruses rapidly when left unprotected.
The cost of cleaning a virus infection at the network server level can be staggering. Infected server files raise the ante on virus infections, rapidly expanding a desktop infection into a network-wide virus outbreak. Although malware infections are relatively infrequent, they can seriously damage your network. Even worse, getting rid of them can take days, resulting in costly downtime and the temporary loss of an essential corporate application.
In essence, three kinds of malware can infect your network through a groupware application: (1) traditional boot-sector viruses hiding in executable programs attached to either e-mail messages or shared documents; (2) macro-viruses activated by opening a shared document file or spreadsheet; or (3) destructive logic bombs.
— Peter T. Davis, "GroupSec," Information Security, July 1998
Technological old timers — that is to say, those of us who were computing before the advent of the Internet — remember when getting your system infected by malicious software, or "malware," was actually relatively difficult.
— Brett Glass, "Know Your Enemy," PC Magazine, May 8, 2001
Earliest Citation:
Computer viruses that attack IBM PCs and compatibles are nearing a milestone of sorts. Within the next few months, the list of viruses will top 1,000, according to Klaus Brunnstein, a noted German computer virus expert. He has published a list of known malicious software for MS-DOS systems that includes 979 viruses and 19 trojans. In all, there are 998 pieces of "malware," Brunnstein said.
— "Inside lines," ComputerWorld, July 29, 1991
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New words. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Malware — Malware, short for malicious software, consists of programming (code, scripts, active content, and other software) designed to disrupt or deny operation, gather information that leads to loss of privacy or exploitation, gain unauthorized access… …   Wikipedia

  • malware — UK US /ˈmælweər/ noun [U] ► IT software that is designed to damage the information on other people s computers, and prevent the computers from working normally: »If running a virus scan doesn t solve the problem, it may be due to a malware… …   Financial and business terms

  • malware — 1997, from MAL (Cf. mal ) + ware, from SOFTWARE (Cf. software), etc …   Etymology dictionary

  • malware — (malicious logic software) n. software that acts on computer files without the knowledge of the user, general name for computer viruses …   English contemporary dictionary

  • malware — /malˈwār/ (computing) noun Any software (eg a virus or Trojan) that is designed to cause damage to a computer system ORIGIN: From malicious software …   Useful english dictionary

  • Malware — El malware suele ser representado con símbolos de peligro. Malware (del inglés malicious software), también llamado badware, código maligno, software malicioso o software malintencionado es un tipo de software que tiene como objetivo infiltrarse… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Malware — Als Malware [ˈmælwɛə] (Kofferwort aus engl. malicious, „bösartig“ und Software) oder Schadprogramm bezeichnet man Computerprogramme, welche vom Benutzer unerwünschte und ggf. schädliche Funktionen ausführen. Da ein Benutzer im Allgemeinen keine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Malware — Logiciel malveillant Cet article fait partie de la série Programmes malveillants Virus Cabir MyDoom.A Tchernobyl …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Malware — Schadsoftware * * * Mal|ware [ malwɛ:ɐ̯ ], die; , s <Pl. selten> [engl. malware, Kurzwort aus: malicious software = »böswillige» Software] (EDV): Software, die (wie z. B. Viren, Würmer usw.) in Computersysteme eindringen u. dort Störungen… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Malware — La palabra malware proviene de una agrupación de las palabras malicious software. Este programa o archivo, que es dañino para el ordenador, está diseñado para insertar virus, gusanos, troyanos o spyware intentando conseguir algún objetivo, como… …   Enciclopedia Universal

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