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'''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called a virus, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful to a computer or other digital device.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another.  Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref>  

'''Malicious software''' (or '''malware'''), often generically called a virus, is [[computer]] [[software]] which deliberately does something harmful or otherwise abusive to a computer or other digital device.<ref>malware. Dictionary.com. [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malware], (accessed: July 13, 2011).</ref> Once downloaded, malware can be passed from one computer to another.  Malware is usually downloaded to a computer by hiding inside rogue (and sometimes legitimate) software packages: the ''Trojan horse'' (or ''Trojan'').<ref>Definition: [http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/Trojan-horse Trojan horse], searchsecurity.techtarget.com, (Accessed July 13, 2011).</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,307602,00.html Apple Macintoshes Targeted by Porn-Based Computer Virus], [[Fox News|FOXNews.com]], November 02, 2007.</ref>  

==Symptoms==

==Symptoms==

If an [[operating system]] (such as [[Windows]], or [[Mac OS]]) gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be destroyed by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may use the infected computer to generate revenue (by displaying advertisements, farming private information, or mining [[cryptocurrency]], for example) or simply cause damage.  Malware can also interfere with industrial processes, infrastructure, and other business processes if it has access to related devices.

If an [[operating system]] (such as [[Windows]], or [[Mac OS]]) gets infected by malware, it could cause the loss of important files; business files, digital music and movies, and pictures could be destroyed by a single infection.<ref>''The Mac Security Blog''. [http://blog.intego.com/2008/12/04/do-you-need-an-antivirus-for-your-mac-definitely-yes/ Do You Need an Antivirus for Your Mac? Definitely, Yes.], blog.intego.com, December 4, 2008.</ref> The malware may use the infected computer to generate revenue (by displaying advertisements, farming private information, or mining [[cryptocurrency]], for example) or simply cause damage.  Malware can also interfere with industrial processes, infrastructure, and other business processes if it has access to related devices.  In some other cases, malware has no interest in the host computer, but rather performs various tasks (such as DDoS attacks and spamming) as a bot for the malware publisher.

===Infectious Mobile Devices===

===Infectious Mobile Devices===

Since the iOS is shared across all Mac devices, malware targeting this operating system will sometimes lay dormant until it is connected to another device.  For example, one kind of malware will infect an iPhone but remain dormant.  Once it is connected to a MacBook (through a wired or wireless connection) it infects that.  The malware will also infect any other iOS device available, such as an iPod or iPad.  After a time, it can gather information from every device the individual owns, essentially stealing their entire online (and quite possibly real) identity.  Such malware is sometimes used by hackers to open a back door into these devices so they can manually lock the entire set of devices and copy everything off of them.

Since the iOS is shared across all Mac devices, malware targeting this operating system will sometimes lay dormant until it is connected to another device.  For example, one kind of malware will infect an iPhone but remain dormant.  Once it is connected to a MacBook (through a wired or wireless connection) it infects that.  The malware will also infect any other iOS device available, such as an iPod or iPad.  After a time, it can gather information from every device the individual owns, essentially stealing their entire online (and quite possibly real) identity.  Such malware is sometimes used by hackers to open a back door into these devices so they can manually lock the entire set of devices and copy everything off of them.

===Other Malware===

===Types===

In addition to the [[Macro Virus]]es, [[Linux Virus]]es, [[Windows Virus]]es, and [[Mac Virus]]es, a number of other types of malware exist for computer operating systems.  These include [[spyware]], [[adware]], [[Computer worm|worms]], and scareware (rogue software that claims to serve a legitimate purpose, usually pretending to be security software).

*[[Computer virus|Virus]]

*[[Trojan Horse (malware)|Trojan]]

*[[Computer worm|Worm]]

 

*[[Spyware]]

*[[Adware]]

*Scareware (rogue software that claims to serve a legitimate purpose, usually pretending to be security software)

==References==

==References==