{"id":86836,"date":"2026-03-18T08:05:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T15:05:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/computer\/malware"},"modified":"2026-06-22T07:46:49","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:46:49","slug":"malware","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.malwarebytes.com\/malware","title":{"rendered":"Malware"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Malware<\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Malware, or malicious software, is a blanket term for any kind of computer software with malicious intent to harm your device. Types of malware include ransomware, spyware, computer viruses and worms and other online threats. Learn more. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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FREE MALWARE SCAN FOR ALL DEVICES<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\t\t

Key takeaways<\/h2>
  • Malware is malicious software designed to harm, disrupt, or take control of devices and data.<\/li>
  • It can steal information, encrypt or delete files, spy on activities, or hijack system functions.<\/li>
  • Common infection signs include slow performance, pop\u2011ups, crashes, strange network activity, or changed settings.<\/li>
  • Malware spreads mainly through hacked sites, malicious downloads, risky apps, and phishing emails.<\/li>
  • Major types include adware, spyware, viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, rootkits, keyloggers, cryptominers, and exploits.<\/li><\/ul>

    What is malware? <\/h2>
    \"what-is-malware\"<\/figure>

    Malware, or \u201cmalicious software,\u201d is an umbrella term that describes any malicious program or code that is harmful to systems.<\/p>

    Hostile, intrusive, and intentionally nasty, malware seeks to invade, damage, or disable computers, computer systems, networks, tablets, and mobile devices, often by taking partial control over a device\u2019s operations. Like the human flu, it interferes with normal functioning.<\/p>

    The motives behind malware vary. Malware can be about making money off you, sabotaging your ability to get work done, making a political statement, or just bragging rights. Although malware cannot damage the physical hardware of systems or network equipment (with one known exception\u2014see the Google Android section below), it can steal, encrypt, or delete your data, alter or hijack core computer functions, and spy on your computer activity without your knowledge or permission.<\/p>

    You know how every year the medical community campaigns for everyone to get a flu shot? That\u2019s because flu outbreaks typically have a season\u2014a time of year when they start spreading and infecting people. In contrast, there are no predictable seasonal infections for PCs, smartphones, tablets, and enterprise networks. For them, it\u2019s always flu season. But instead of suffering chills and body aches, users can fall ill from a kind of machine malady\u2014malware.<\/p>