What is Malware?

What is malware?

Malware (short for malicious software) comes in a vast array of different forms, each of which is designed specifically to damage or disrupt the infected machine or other networked machines. From redirecting your search attempts, to serving up pop-up ads, tracking the websites you visit, or deleting your important documents, malware can sit quietly on your computer without you ever even noticing, or it can slow down, disrupt or even periodically reboot your system. It will often to hide deep inside your system making removing it all the more difficult and may even reinstall itself even after you thought you had deleted it!

This directory has been compiled with the purpose of arming you - the infected user - with the facts and the information you will need on your quest to rid your system of malicious software. For the purpose of this directory, we have broken down the generic 'malware' into the following basic categories: worms, Trojans, viruses and other miscellaneous malware.