ENGLISH
REFERENCE

malware

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈmæɫˌwɛɹ// Security
Definition

n. software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. It is a general term for things like viruses, worms, and spyware.

n. software specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to a computer system. Often used as a collective term for various types of malicious code.


SIMPLE

You should install antivirus software to protect your computer from malware.

CONTEXTUAL

The company's network was compromised after an employee accidentally downloaded malware from a suspicious email attachment.

COMPLEX

Sophisticated malware can remain dormant within a system for months, collecting sensitive data before being remotely activated by its creators to launch a coordinated attack.

Origin

A portmanteau formed from the prefix mal-, derived from the Latin malus meaning bad, and the noun software.

Pitfall

My computer has many malwares.My computer has a lot of malware.Malware is uncountable; to refer to specific types, use 'pieces of malware' or 'types of malware'.

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