What is Malware?

What is malware? "Malware" is a term for any software that gets installed on your machine and performs unwanted tasks, often for some third party's benefit. Malware programs can range from being simple annoyances (pop-up advertising) to causing serious computer invasion and damage (e.g., stealing passwords and data or infecting other machines on the network). Additionally, some malware programs are designed to transmit information about your Web-browsing habits to advertisers or other third party interests, unbeknownst to you.

Malware (for 'malicious software') is any program or file that is harmful to a computer user.

Has a malware infection taken your PC hostage? Here's how to clean it out and restore your PC to a pristine state.