Malware
From Computing and Software Wiki
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==Malware purposes== | ==Malware purposes== | ||
| - | === | + | ===Obtaining sensitive information=== |
| - | === | + | ===Obtaining financial returns=== |
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==Malware prevention== | ==Malware prevention== | ||
Revision as of 18:04, 11 April 2009
Malicious software (malware) encompasses a broad range of software typically designed to covertly operate and deceive users to hide its actual purpose. It can be used as a catch-all phrase for software that has been programmed for malicious purposes intentionally; software such as viruses, worms, spyware, and botnets. Its purpose varies, but ultimately comes down to three categories; malware is created to generate profit, to cause harm, to gain popularity, or a combination.
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Malware history
Before computers were accessible to the general public malware was not an overwhelming threat. Starting sometime in the 1970's computers became somewhat more common, and as a direct result, so did malicious software. At this time, viruses started to appear on networks such as ARPANET, gaining popularity into the 1980's with the explosion of person computers.
