What is Malware? | About Malware | Define Malware | Malware Propagation Ways | Examples of Malware.

What is Malware

Malware.

                  Malware is the abbreviation of Malicious Software. Malware is a malicious software that damages your computer. The term malware is an umbrella term that defines a wide variety of potentially harmful software. Any software is having malicious intention like damaging, disabling or limiting the control of legitimate owner and providing control of the target system to the developer of malware or an attacker. Malware can be classified into various types including Viruses, Worms, Spyware and other malicious software. Malware can take full control to your computer.

Malware Propagation Ways.
                         There are different ways that malware can get into a system. Some methods that are popularly used are as follows.
1- Free Software.
                        When software is available on internet for free, it mostly contains additional software and applications. Most common example of free software is like downloading crack files usually contains additional malicious software.
2- File Sharing Services.
                         File sharing services such as torrent and peer-to-peer file sharing services transfer the file from multiple computers.
3- Removable Media.
                       Malware can propagate through removable media such as USB. Apart from USB, External hard disk, CD, DVD can also bring malware along with them.
4- Not using Firewall and Anti-Virus.
                       Disabling Security Firewalls and Anti-Virus programs or not using Internet security software can also allow the malicious software to be download on a system.
5- Email Communication.
                      In an organization, email communication is the most popularly used way of communication. Malware software can be sent through email attachment, Email containing malicious URL.
Examples.

                 - Virus          - Worm

                 - Bacteria     -  Trojan Horse

                 - Spyware     - Ransomware