: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Examples of malware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Additional features include CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the network level, and a Kill Switch that cuts internet access if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly.
—
Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
Researchers have finally cracked disruptive malware known as Fast16 that predates Stuxnet and may have been used to target Iran’s nuclear program.
—Matt Burgess, Wired News, 25 Apr. 2026
All deliver explicit pornography and, in at least one case, a scam site falsely claiming a visitor’s computer is infected and advising the visitor to pay a fee for the non-existent malware to be removed.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Strong antivirus software uses behavior detection to monitor what programs are doing in real time, helping flag suspicious activity even if the malware hasn't been seen before.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
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Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 25 Apr. 2026
Researchers have finally cracked disruptive malware known as Fast16 that predates Stuxnet and may have been used to target Iran’s nuclear program.
—Matt Burgess, Wired News, 25 Apr. 2026
All deliver explicit pornography and, in at least one case, a scam site falsely claiming a visitor’s computer is infected and advising the visitor to pay a fee for the non-existent malware to be removed.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 24 Apr. 2026
Strong antivirus software uses behavior detection to monitor what programs are doing in real time, helping flag suspicious activity even if the malware hasn't been seen before.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 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 1 May. 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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