Malware
Malware is software or firmware intended to perform harmful or unauthorized actions, such as stealing information, disrupting systems, or damaging data.
A broad category with different effects
An infostealer collects information; ransomware denies access as part of an extortion attempt. Other malware can provide remote control or carry out additional actions. Knowing the category is useful, but response still depends on the behavior observed and the systems affected.
Keep delivery and execution separate
Receiving a suspicious attachment does not establish that it ran. Downloading a file does not establish that it stole anything. Search ads to execution follows the evidence needed between those events.
Malicious code can also arrive inside a plausible work task. The recruiting-assessment article explains why a familiar repository host or convincing recruiter does not establish that a project is safe to execute.
A legitimate program can be abused without becoming malware itself. The fake IT support article examines remote-support software used by an unauthorized operator. In that case, identify the operator’s actions and any additional code rather than labeling every installed support tool malicious.