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 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, [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 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, [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Computer_worms worms], spyware, and [http://www.cas.mcmaster.ca/wiki/index.php/Botnets 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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[[Image:malware.jpg|frame|Some source code from a malware example.]] | [[Image:malware.jpg|frame|Some source code from a malware example.]] | ||
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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. | 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. | ||
| - | ==Malware | + | ==Malware purposes== |
| - | === | + | ===Information seeking=== |
| - | === | + | ===For profit=== |
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==Malware prevention== | ==Malware prevention== | ||
Revision as of 18:03, 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.
Contents |
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.
