Viruses, spyware and adware all fall under the term malware, or bad software. Malware is software that is installed, intentionally or unintentionally, on one’s computer or smartphone.
Adware is advertising software. This usually gets installed through a virus or from software you may have installed. Generally, free software includes adware. The adware is a source of revenue for the free software company. For example, a common legitimate program, Weatherbug, includes adware in their install, and their installer notifies you of the adware install. Adware is generally not dangerous, but it can get annoying. If you get enough adware on your machine it may slow the computer down to the point where it appears to have locked up.
Spyware is a little more dangerous. Spyware is spy/intrusion software. Spyware will look for information on your computer such as usernames and passwords, credit card information, contacts, or anything the hacker wants to find. Spyware will generally not harm your computer. Why would it; the longer your computer works the more information it can gather. Spyware is generally installed through a vulnerability or socially engineered process.
Viruses are the most dangerous malware. Those are malicious programs. Viruses intend on damaging software, whether it’s deleting pictures, corrupting documents or erasing the entire contents of your computer including the operating system. Viruses are usually on a computer for a period of time until the hacker decides to execute the “payload”. The payload is the virus action. Most current viruses destroy themselves after the payload is executed. Normally when a computer is infected with a virus it usually has adware and spyware. Viruses are generally installed through a vulnerability or socially engineered process.
What’s the difference between a virus, spyware and adware?
Viruses, spyware and adware all fall under the term malware, or bad software. Malware is software that is installed, intentionally or unintentionally, on one’s computer or smartphone.
Adware is advertising software. This usually gets installed through a virus or from software you may have installed. Generally, free software includes adware. The adware is a source of revenue for the free software company. For example, a common legitimate program, Weatherbug, includes adware in their install, and their installer notifies you of the adware install. Adware is generally not dangerous, but it can get annoying. If you get enough adware on your machine it may slow the computer down to the point where it appears to have locked up.
Spyware is a little more dangerous. Spyware is spy/intrusion software. Spyware will look for information on your computer such as usernames and passwords, credit card information, contacts, or anything the hacker wants to find. Spyware will generally not harm your computer. Why would it; the longer your computer works the more information it can gather. Spyware is generally installed through a vulnerability or socially engineered process.
Viruses are the most dangerous malware. Those are malicious programs. Viruses intend on damaging software, whether it’s deleting pictures, corrupting documents or erasing the entire contents of your computer including the operating system. Viruses are usually on a computer for a period of time until the hacker decides to execute the “payload”. The payload is the virus action. Most current viruses destroy themselves after the payload is executed. Normally when a computer is infected with a virus it usually has adware and spyware. Viruses are generally installed through a vulnerability or socially engineered process.
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