Malware (=Malicious Software)
Malware (=MALicious softWARE) is software designed to damage or to
influence a PC or a network
without the owner's consent.
Malware can appear in various forms of software,
for example, computer viruses,
worms,
trojan horses,
rootkits,
spyware,
dishonest adware and others. The distinction between software
and malicious software relies on the perceived intent of the software's
creator and not on particular features or software type.
Creators of malware continuously come up with new ways to gain
access to your PC in order to damage it, steal private information
and so on.