: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Examples of malware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Once infected, ChatGPT may unknowingly execute these instructions, potentially deploying malware.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
In other cases, clicking the link triggers an immediate malware download disguised as an audio file.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Creating malware and sending scam emails can land you behind bars, but creating an AI that can do these things isn’t a crime, at least according to federal law.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malware
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Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
In other cases, clicking the link triggers an immediate malware download disguised as an audio file.
—Ken Colburn, AZCentral.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Creating malware and sending scam emails can land you behind bars, but creating an AI that can do these things isn’t a crime, at least according to federal law.
—Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malware
Cite this Entry
“Malware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malware. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
malware
noun
mal·ware
ˈmal-ˌwer 
: software that is designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning and that can be used to commit cybercrime (as by revealing passwords, PINs, and other sensitive data)
Etymology
mal- bad + software
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