Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun computing Software that performs or facilitates illegal activities.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

crime +‎ -ware

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Examples

  • But so-called crimeware or malware would be useless, without a means for the criminal gangs behind it to gather the information.

    BBC News | News Front Page | World Edition 2010

  • This is called crimeware-as-a-service because the actual viral code does not reside on the host, but rather in the cloud, similar to a software-as-a-service platform.

    Latest News from Web 2.0 Journal 2008

  • The number of detected rogue anti-malware programs - fake security software that actually infects computers to animate assorted electronic crimes - fell by nearly 60 percent between June and July of 2009, as e-crime gangs turned away from massive distribution schemes for this kind of crimeware to mine personal data from PCs to an apparently more successful ransomware model that require less aggressive circulation to return optimal profitability.

    Help Net Security - News 2010

  • The group now defines "crimeware" as code designed to attack the data held by financial institutions.

    Datamation Security 2009

  • The group now defines "crimeware" as code designed to attack the data held by financial institutions.

    InternetNews Realtime News for IT Managers 2009

  • To activatethe Web cam and begin stealing data, the attackersused acommon do-it-yourself crimeware kit, called Hupigon.

    Google-style cyberattack found on Chinese government site 2010

  • The researchers described the technical evolution of the malware program as disturbing: Only rarely do we come across crimeware that has been continually stealing and collecting personal information and payment card data, and compromising bank accounts as far back as 2006.

    A Huge Cache of Stolen Financial Data - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • The researchers described the technical evolution of the malware program as disturbing: Only rarely do we come across crimeware that has been continually stealing and collecting personal information and payment card data, and compromising bank accounts as far back as 2006.

    A Huge Cache of Stolen Financial Data - Bits Blog - NYTimes.com 2008

  • How many viruses, trojans, worms and crimeware lie undetected within our national infrastructure?, like so many Cold War sleeper agents, awaiting activation, is a matter we can only speculate about.

    Fighting Wars in Cyberspace Robert Fry 2010

  • The group reported 31,173 sites that spread crimeware — malicious software programmed to steal your password and other information — an 827% uptick from January 2008.

    Malware gets more malicious, boots small country offline 2009

Comments

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  • The Wikipedia entry says this 'term was coined by Peter Cassidy, Secretary General of the Anti-Phishing Working Group to distinguish it from other kinds of malevolent programs', but adds a citation needed.

    January 5, 2009