What is malware?

Malware, short for malicious software, is software (or script or code) designed to disrupt computer operation, gather sensitive information, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. It is a general term used to describe any kind of software or code specifically designed to exploit a computer, or the data it contains, without consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software.Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, dishonest adware, most rootkits, and other malicious programs. Most of your comon AV software will pick up viruses, worms and trojans. For spyware and adware you need another tool a few I recomend to do the job are Malwarebytes and super anti spyware and Ad-Aware Free Internet Security.