Malicious Software

In short: Malicious software (malware) is software developed to harm devices, data or users.

In more detail: It is the umbrella term for viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware and more.

In Depth

Overview

• Self-spreading: viruses, worms.
• Disguised: trojans.
• Extortion: ransomware (Locky, WannaCry).
• Espionage: keyloggers, infostealers, Pegasus.
• Advertising: adware.
• Remote control: botnets, backdoors.
• Resources: cryptojacking.

Protection

Updates, backups, anti-malware, caution with attachments and downloads.

See also: Malware, Trojans, Worms, Anti-Malware Software