What is the difference between anti-virus software and anti spyware?
Question by Casey: What is the difference between anti-virus software and anti spyware?
What is the difference bewtween antivirus like symantec and Mcafee vs. Anti-adware spyware made by lavasoft?
Best answer:
Answer by jamielawjen@talk21.com
A virus is a small computer program which replicates itself onto other computers, hence why it is called a virus, it acts in a similar way to normal viruses. It can allow malicious people to take control of your pc and use it in a wide range of ways.
Spyware on the other hand, is software which is put onto your pc and tracks what you do, or shows adverts, installs annoying programs etc.
Anti virus software runs and checks files for a virus against a database of virus ‘foot prints’. Anti spyware searches for installed programs, then removes them for you.
Jamie
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Tags: Anti, Antivirus, between, difference, software, Spyware
To put it simply…
Viruses are generally referring to something that can damage your system; delete information, corrupt information, maybe slow your machine down… That type of thing. Trojans, which are generally a means to allow someone to infiltrate your system at will, are often included under the umbrella of viruses, but are actually a specific form of threat.
Spyware is something that gathers information on your computer. Cookies are most commonly the method used, where your browsing habits can be recorded. More serious uses can go as far as recording your personal information, and delivering this information at some later date. This can be used to target you for spam, and can be as dangerous as exposing you to identity theft.
Both can be very dangerous. Viruses are mostly targeted at your PC, but can do what Spyware does. Spyware is targeted at YOU.
A Virus is software that will damage your files or you system software. and copy it self to other peoples computers.
Spy-ware tracks the websites you visit ,,the software you have on your computer , copies everything you type . usually uploading it to a person . it can also to redirect you to websites.
there are a great many others. Trojans, zombies etc etc
today most are just referred to as Mal-ware. ( for Malicious software)