Malware is any software created to damage computers, steal information, or cause other harm. It includes things like viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware.
A modern blend of 'malicious' or 'mal-' (bad) and 'software'. It appeared in the late 20th century as computers and the internet became common.
Once you see 'malware' as 'bad software', cybersecurity vocabulary gets a lot clearer. Many tech buzzwords are actually simple mash-ups like this, hiding an easy idea under a scary name.
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