# Malware
> Malware is software designed to harm, spy on, or take control of a device.
Topics: Apps, Security
Difficulty: Everyday
Aliases: malicious software
Updated: 2026-06-26T08:00:00.000Z
## Go deeper
Malware is software designed to harm, spy on, or take control of a device. In everyday buying decisions, the useful question is not just what the spec says, but what it changes for comfort, cost, speed, safety, or battery life.