: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Examples of malware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some specific malware and IP addresses, including the one from Vladivostok, overlapped with infrastructure previously used by North Korean actors.
—
Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
Bad actors can make a copy of them and remove the guardrails against malware.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Never click on suspicious links Some scams prompt you to click on a link that takes you to a fake website to gather your personal information or unintentionally download malware onto your computer.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Such attacks range from spreading malware and executing identity theft scams to producing deepfake videos and launching ransomware attacks, according to cybersecurity experts.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
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Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
Bad actors can make a copy of them and remove the guardrails against malware.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
Never click on suspicious links Some scams prompt you to click on a link that takes you to a fake website to gather your personal information or unintentionally download malware onto your computer.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Such attacks range from spreading malware and executing identity theft scams to producing deepfake videos and launching ransomware attacks, according to cybersecurity experts.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
Cite this Entry
“Malware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malware. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malware
noun
: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Legal 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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