Malware is malicious software designed to exploit any programmable device, service or network. which when criminals get that inforamtion they take advantage of it and ask for a ransom to get it back.Shorthand for malicious software, malware typically consists of code developed by cyberattackers, designed to cause extensive damage to data and systems or to gain unauthorized access to a network.
Common malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware. Recent malware attacks have exfiltrated data in mass amounts.
The term malware was first used by computer scientist and security researcher Yisrael Radai in 1990. The first computer virus, called Elk Cloner, was discovered on a Mac in 1982. In 1986, the first PC-based malware, known as Brain, was released.During the late 1980s, the most malicious programs were simple boot sector and file infectors spread via floppy disk.The earliest documented viruses began to appear in the early 1970s. Historians often credit the “Creeper Worm,” an experimental self-replicating program written by Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies with being the first virus. Creeper gained access via the ARPANET and copied itself to remote systems where it displayed the message: “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!” During the late 1980s, the most malicious programs were simple boot sector and file infectors spread via floppy disk.