<P> Malware , short for malicious software , is an umbrella term used to refer to a variety of forms of harmful or intrusive software , including computer viruses , worms , Trojan horses , ransomware , spyware , adware , scareware , and other malicious programs . It can take the form of executable code , scripts , active content , and other software . Malware is defined by its malicious intent , acting against the requirements of the computer user -- and so does not include software that causes unintentional harm due to some deficiency . </P>
the general term for software that is designed to damage disable or steal data is
Malware , short for malicious software