What is malware?

A portmanteau of “malicious” and “software”, malware is any software written with the intention of causing harm to a user such as stealing data, damaging devices, and spying, among others. Trojans, spyware and ransomware are all different kinds of malware. Usually, malware is created by hackers looking to make quick money by stealing data or blocking users access to their data Malware can make its way to users’ computers in the form of an email link, social media or any executable file. To safeguard oneself against malware, one must install an antivirus software that can detect malware and protect one’s data.

Malware authors use a variety of physical and virtual means to spread malware that infects devices and networks. For example, malicious programs can be delivered to a system with a USB drive or can spread over the internet through drive-by downloads, which automatically download malicious programs to systems without the user’s approval or knowledge. Phishing attacks are another common type of malware delivery where emails disguised as legitimate messages contain malicious links or attachments that can deliver the malware executable file to unsuspecting users.

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