Malicious software, or malware, is an all-encompassing term for any software that has been created to damage, disable, or produce an unwanted condition within a computer system. This definition, while functional, is also very broad in its categorization of malware. There is malware that is coded specifically to steal credit card numbers from payment systems, while other malware is utilized to take control of a system, allowing an attacker to remotely control that system. Analysts who observe these specific behaviors—such as how a compromised system sends communications out to the internet after infection, or what actions are taken on an infected system—may be able to determine the type of the malware, and what the end goal of the attacker may be.
In general, when discussing malware, the following are some of the more specific categories:
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