Following the collection of opinions for the definition of malware, the Internet Society of China has now formally published the final edition of the definition of this kind of software.

ISC defines malware as software that automatically installs itself and runs on users' computers without clear indication or the user's prior approval and does harm to user's interests. ISC says this definition is fairly authoritative as it has been worked out by various parties, including members of the anti-malware software coordination work team and other groups.

So far, members of the anti-malware software coordination work team have expressed their willingness to take a lead in regulating their own services in accordance with this definition.

Computer virus, oddly enough, have not been included in this official definition of malware.