Malware
Any software intentionally designed to cause harm, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to systems.
Full Definition
Malware (malicious software) is an umbrella term for any software intentionally designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. The term encompasses a wide variety of threats including viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, infostealers, rootkits, and botnets.\n\nMalware is typically distributed through phishing emails, malicious downloads, exploit kits, drive-by downloads, compromised software supply chains, and removable media. Once executed, malware may establish persistence, escalate privileges, disable security software, communicate with C2 infrastructure, and execute its payload.\n\nThe malware-as-a-service (MaaS) economy has dramatically lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals. Sophisticated infostealer, ransomware, and RAT platforms are commercially available on dark web forums with full support, dashboards, and regular updates — enabling criminals with minimal technical skill to launch effective attacks.
Related Terms
Infostealer
Malware designed to silently harvest credentials, cookies, and sensitive data from infected devices.
Malware & InfrastructureRansomware
Malware that encrypts victim data and demands payment for the decryption key.
Malware & InfrastructureBotnet
A network of compromised computers controlled remotely by a threat actor.
Malware & InfrastructureCommand and Control (C2/C&C)
Infrastructure used by threat actors to remotely communicate with and control compromised systems.
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