What is malware?

Malware, short for malicious software, is a blanket term for viruses, worms, trojans and other harmful computer programs attackers use to wreak destruction and gain access to sensitive information.

The key point is that malware is identified as such based on its intended malicious use, not a particular technique or technology. This means that the question of, say, what the difference is between malware and a virus misses the point a bit: a virus is a type of malware, so all viruses are malware (but not every piece of malware is a virus).

How does malware spread and get on your device?

You’ve probably heard the words virus, trojan, and worm used interchangeably. In fact, the terms describe three different kinds of malware, which are distinguished from each other by the process by which they reproduce and spread.

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Cybersecurity pro Alana Scott was building her skills and her career in the conventional manner: by attending conferences and looking to network.

But she and several colleagues found that they experienced a “kind of awkwardness when we tried to find our place in that space.”

As she explains: “It was not an active, ‘What are you doing here?’ It was more like they just didn’t see you. It was more like no one was engaging with you. No one was saying, ‘How are you? Nice to see you.’”

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Such experiences, Scott says, could—and, indeed have—discouraged people of color from taking part in industry meetings and professional associations, which in turn could impact career growth and future opportunities.

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