Malware
From Computing and Software Wiki
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'''Malicious software (malware)''' encompasses a broad range of software typically designed to covertly operate and deceive users to 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, [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Computer_worms worms], spyware, and [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Botnets botnets]. | '''Malicious software (malware)''' encompasses a broad range of software typically designed to covertly operate and deceive users to 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, [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Computer_worms worms], spyware, and [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Botnets botnets]. | ||
| - | 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. | + | 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 [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/ARPANET ARPANET], gaining popularity into the 1980's with the explosion of person computers. |
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[[Image:malware.jpg|frame|Some of the source code from a malware example.]] | [[Image:malware.jpg|frame|Some of the source code from a malware example.]] | ||
Revision as of 16:32, 11 April 2009
Malicious software (malware) encompasses a broad range of software typically designed to covertly operate and deceive users to 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.
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.
Some of the source code from a malware example.
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