Viruses and Spyware

Viruses and Spyware are the Two Biggest Threats to you!

Spyware

Spy ware is defined as any program that has the ability to monitor your actions on your computer.

The reason it is known as spyware is because in most cases it ends up sneaking onto your system either by being packaged in a download or by someone placing it there to watch what you do; usually by visiting a website.

Viruses Defined

Viruses are a form of malware that is designed with the intent to harm as many computers as possible. A virus has the ability to make additional copies of itself while feeding off its host file. This allows the virus to spread from location to location.

Similarities Between Viruses and Spyware

Although a virus is different from spy-ware they still have many of the same properties:

• Both can invade your privacy
• Both have the ability to infect your computer without you knowing it until its too late
• Both typically have a malicious purpose
• Both use your computer and the internet to access your information
• Both are very easy to obtain through email, websites, downloads...
• Both can be very hard to remove
• Both are a huge nuisance
• Both can require a great deal of time and money to recover from
• Both can be very damaging to your computer and its information
• Both have the ability to cover their tracks making it impossible to find where it came from
• Both can severely affect system performance

Characteristics of Spy-ware

Spy-ware has some characteristics that differ from viruses:

• Spy-ware usually steals information, not corrupt it
• Spy-ware is typically used for identity theft or learning your computing habits
• Spy-ware is now being bundled with phishing attempts
• Spy-ware is more common nowadays than viruses
• Spy-ware is the #1 security issue for computers nowadays

Characteristics of Viruses

Although viruses have much in common with spyware, there are some big differences:

• Viruses typically corrupt or delete information, not steal it
• Viruses have the ability to self replicate and spread
• Viruses have a better ability to shut down networks
• The main purpose for a virus is to harm as many computers as possible

Protecting Yourself

As you can see, although different, viruses and malicious software have the ability to work hand in hand. The good news is there is a way to stop viruses and spyware in their tracks.

All you need is the right software and some common sense. Read my page about the best spy ware removal software to help protect yourself from this malicious software