Malware, short
for malicious software, is software designed to disrupt computer operation,
gather sensitive information, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems.
While it is sometimes software, it can also appear in the form
of script or code. Malware is a general term used to describe
any kind of software or code specifically designed to exploit a
computer, or the data it contains.
Malware
includes computer viruses, worms, trojan
horses, spyware, adware, most rootkits, and
other malicious programs. In law, malware is sometimes known as a computer contaminant, for instance in the
legal codes of several U.S. states,
including California and West Virginia.
