Spyware and viruses are both forms of unwanted or malicious software, sometimes called “malware.” You need to protect yourself from both.
What’s the difference?
| • | Spyware (sometimes called adware) collects information about you without appropriate notice and consent. |
| • | A computer virus spreads software, usually malicious in nature, from computer to computer. |
Spyware can get installed on your computer in a number of ways. One way is through a virus. Another way is for it to be secretly downloaded and installed with other software you’ve chosen to install.
In short, spyware is a specific type of unwanted software that secretly collects your information.
A virus is a specific way software can be secretly distributed, often by e-mail or instant messaging.
Both spyware and viruses can cause damage to your computer or cause you to lose important data.
To help protect against spyware, try Super Anti-Spyware.
To help protect against viruses, try Avast (a good free-for-personal-use anti-virus) or software from another antivirus provider.
Categories: Information Technology
Another excellent anti-malware product is Malwarebytes:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/
Since my last post we have started using a new anti-virus / anti-malware package:
Microsoft Security Essentials (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials)
As impressed as I was with Malwarebytes, MSE has been even more impressive. We recently had to remove some nasties from a client’s computer and Malwarebytes found nothing, whilst MSE found about 3 infections and was able to remove all of them.
At the time of writing MSE is free for home use and for businesses with up to 10 PCs.