What is the general term used for software designed to cause harm?

The term used for software designed to cause harm is "malware." Malware is a broad category that encompasses various types of harmful software intended to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computers and networks. This can include viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware, among others. The key characteristic of malware is its malicious intent, which is to exploit or harm users, their data, or their systems.

In contrast, firmware refers to low-level software that is embedded into hardware devices, providing the necessary instructions for how the device operates. An operating system is essential software that manages computer hardware and software resources, enabling the user to interact with the system and run applications. Applications, on the other hand, are software designed to perform specific tasks to benefit users, such as word processing or web browsing. These terms describe different types of software, but do not capture the harmful intent of malware.