TechnologyJuly 13, 2026

malware

/ˈmæl.wɛər/

Definition

Malicious software designed to infiltrate, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system or mobile device.

Etymology

The word is a portmanteau of 'malicious' and 'software.' It first appeared in the early 1990s as a concise term for any program specifically designed to cause harm or perform illicit activities on computing systems.

In the news

In this article, malware is mentioned in the context of botnets infecting Android devices to establish a persistent point of presence within a network. This illustrates how cybercriminals use malicious code to gain long-term control over user devices.

Lumen’s Black Lotus Labs fights network security threats with AI

Read the full article ↗

Fierce Network

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