Difference between revisions of "Malware"

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'''Malware''' is [[software]] designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The term is a portmanteau of the words malicious and software. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.
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'''Malware''' is [[software]] designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is often a group term for anything harmful that runs on a computer, like viruses, spyware, [[adware]], Trojan Horses, and rootkits.
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These harmful programs most often attack Windows machines, which can be removed when caught early. By ignoring the situation or opening the program when prompted allows the malware to entrench itself into the system. It's highly recommended to restart your computer in [[safe mode]] and run a scan with your virus protection software as well as the program [[Malwarebytes]].
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==See also==
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* [[Malwarebytes]]
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* [[Virus and Malware Removal]]
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* [[Symantec Anti-Virus]]
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* [[Safe Mode]]
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* [[Macintosh Adware Removal]]
  
Many normal computer users are however still unfamiliar with the term, and most never use it. Instead, "computer [[virus]]" is incorrectly used in common parlance and even in the media to describe all kinds of malware, though not all malware are viruses.
 
  
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[[Category:Malware]]
 
[[Category:Malware]]

Latest revision as of 17:08, 18 November 2014

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It is often a group term for anything harmful that runs on a computer, like viruses, spyware, adware, Trojan Horses, and rootkits.

These harmful programs most often attack Windows machines, which can be removed when caught early. By ignoring the situation or opening the program when prompted allows the malware to entrench itself into the system. It's highly recommended to restart your computer in safe mode and run a scan with your virus protection software as well as the program Malwarebytes.

See also