Malware, short for malicious software, is a type of software designed to harm a computer system, steal data, or disrupt its operation. A virus is a type of malware that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. While all viruses are malware, not all malware is a virus.
Malware can take many different forms, including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, and spyware. Viruses are typically spread through email attachments or malicious websites, while worms spread through networks by exploiting vulnerabilities in software. Trojan horses disguise themselves as legitimate software in order to trick users into installing them, while ransomware encrypts files on a victim’s computer and demands payment in exchange for decrypting them. Spyware collects information about a user’s activities and sends it to a third party.
