Virus or Spyware - What's the Difference?
(ContentDesk) January 13, 2006 -- Virus or Spyware - What's the Difference?This month's article answers one of the things that still arises as a frequent question from computer users, "what's the difference between Viruses and Spyware?"
Dave Fraser attempts to clarify it here.One of the biggest slowdowns of a PC is caused by viruses, adware or spyware as it's often called.
Before the user can benefit from any other PC optimisation tips or improvements they really need a system relatively free from those pests.A virus is a piece of malicious software code written to cause some kind of damage to a computer system or network or even the Internet itself.
Viruses spread, similar to their biological namesake, from one machine to another and can spread havoc wherever they go.They are most commonly spread by sharing files with others or through email attachments where they can be set up to send themselves to all the addresses in a users email address book.Adware is usually downloaded and installed along with some other program without the person's knowledge and unlike a virus doesn't spread by itself.
Very often the computer user clicks "OK" without reading the terms and conditions and by doing so they agree to have the files installed.
An example of this is, a person sees a "free" program on offer which they think might be useful and they download it without thinking.
It has been known for some rogue anti-spyware programs to install adware and the website will earn money from any ads that are clicked on by the user.The benefit for the advertising company is that the extra files introduced are used to determine things like a person's surfing habits and the data is used to serve up popup ads or redirect the browser to a page other than the one the person wanted.Some of the programs can be used to install keyloggers which can send back information about any passwords and bank details etc stored on the computer. Adware is not so much a security problem it is more an annoyance especially when there are ten different programs trying to show ads. The amount of computer resources that get used can slow an average system to a crawl.Spyware is more malicious and evil intentioned and is designed to steal something. It can be downloaded by visiting the wrong types of websites or along with other files the same way as adware. Spyware can often be hard to remove as it can continually recreate itself and hide somewhere on the PC's hard drive.
Programs such as trojans can be used to allow access to hackers at a later date. From the story of the Trojan horse where the Greeks hid inside the wooden horse left as a peace offering and were wheeled in to the fort by the Trojans themselves. Then at night the Greeks crept out of the horse and opened the gates and let the enemy in. Trojans and adware, unlike viruses, don't spread by themselves.It is always wise for someone to run more than one spyware checker as no one system finds them all. Users can never be certain they have removed every one because as new ones are constantly being created which the spyware checker has yet to be programmed to detect.Two very popular spyware checkers are "Spybot search and destroy" and "Adaware 6.0" both of which are free.
Often a dedicated system which not only removes spyware but also prevents infections such as the one at http://www.pcsandthings.com/CounterSpy.htm is also advisable, if only to utilize the free trial and thoroughly scan and clean a
system.Often people ask the question "doesn't my anti-virus software remove spyware"?
Well the answer is, most don't and even if they did a specialist product usually works best. Computer users should also be aware of bogus spyware scanners available on-line which actually install their own spyware once they have removed their competitors.
Sometimes a person will run a free scan and it finds all sorts of nasties but they will have to sign up and pay to use the remove function of the program. It has been known that they find things that don't actually exist but are used to frighten people into believing they have lots of spyware when all they have are advertising cookies.Cookies are small text files that websites leave on a computer so that when the person revisits the site the page can be customised for the individual or the site can use it to count returning visitors. They are harmless and most of them are useful.
They can be easily removed by deleting them in a browsers tools section.The moral of the story is, to stay protected, a person needs to be running a suitable - up to date - antivirus program and one or more Spyware checkers.More computer tips can be gotten from Dave's website at http://www.pcsandthings.com.
Adware Spyware are you Protected
As the internet grows by millions of users each year so to does the threat of adware spyware. So why is this happening, well the easy answer is that there are more and more computers coming online every day so there are more and more computers to be infected.
In the past spyware and adware has been called a trend, and that it would pass just as any trends pass, unfortunately this has not happened and does not look likely to happen in the near future.
As more and more home computer users become aware of this spyware plague and this is usually after they have been infected by adware or spyware, they are now taking action by using adware removal tools to protect their information from prying eyes.
For some though it has been to late as they were infected by a malicious program such as a trojan horse or system monitor that has tracked their every move, stolen passwords, bank accounts...
Spyware > Adware Spyware are you Protected
Detect and Remove Spyware
The increasingly common computer and internet threat known as spyware is designed to gather information about personal and business computer users.
The private information spyware is capable of obtaining about you can include your click stream, usage habits, passwords, credit card number and social security information.
It is almost guaranteed that all PC computers have been infected with spyware.
A spyware infection is not primarily intended to alter a computer's function but as a "side effect" your computer will begin malfunctioning in obvious ways when some types of spyware invade.
Possible signs include continuous pop ups, browser crashes and unauthorized start page changes.
Users who have downloaded music and game programs are likely to have been infected as well as those who use shareware and/or freeware.To clear your computer of malicious spyware computer users must download or purchase one of the many spyware scan tools.
Proven...
Spyware > Detect and Remove Spyware
Solve your Spyware and Adware Problem
Having a good Spyware eliminator on your computer is vital now a days with all of the different Spyware, Adware, and other malicious computer parasites that are out there.
Most of them are reasonably priced and very easy to use.Two of the biggest things that these Anti-Spyware programs accomplish for you are that they help in protecting your online privacy and they help make your computer run a lot better.
You may wonder about what I'm talking about.
Well as far as your privacy goes, companies put this Spyware on your computer through you downloading different things from the Internet.
By doing this they are able to track your surfing habits and even get your e-mail address so that they can send you a lot of junk e-mail such as different advertisements.
As far as helping your computer run better, you eliminate a lot of these programs from your computer, which are constantly running in the background and eating up a lot of your system resources.You...
Solve your Spyware and Adware Problem
Spyware > Solve your Spyware and Adware Problem
Spyware Removal Technology Gets an Upgrade: PCSecurityShield Releases Privacy Defender 4.0
Delray Beach, FL (ContentDesk) February 20, 2006 -- PCSecurityShield today announces the release of the latest version of its popular adware and spyware removal tool, Privacy Defender 4.0. With its simple interface and massive database of adware and spyware definitions, Privacy Defender 4.0 is part of a long line of low cost, simple to use security software products. Privacy Defender 4.0, with its $39.99 retail price is the fourth, and most effective adware and spyware removal tool yet. Adware and spyware are tiny files that are downloaded onto a users computer, many times without the users knowledge, and in their simplest form cause computer slowdowns and popups and at their worse, endanger the users privacy and identity. Privacy Defender 4.0 offers an affordable solution to todays adware and spyware threat. From customer feedback we have continued to grow and enhance the quality of the products that we provide, says Arthur Frischman, President of PCSecurityShield, Inc., and Privacy...
Spyware Removal Technology Gets an Upgrade: PCSecurityShield Releases Privacy Defender 4.0
Spyware > Spyware Removal Technology Gets an Upgrade: PCSecurityShield Releases Privacy Defender 4.0
Will Microsoft Impact the Spyware and Adware Epidemic?
Microsoft has developed a anti-spyware and anti-adware strategy.
Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) is now available for download, which is their first step toward combating the ever growing threat of security vulnerbilities that are created by spyware software and adware software.
For more about Microsoft's Anti-spyware beta software see our site:http://www.free-spyware-removal.net/spyware.htmThe question is, will they be able to effectively eliminate this every growing threat?Until they officially release their finished anti-spyware program, you might want to look at Webroot's Spy Sweeper Solution.
Webroot was just awarded their third straight PC Magazine Editor's Choice Award."The best just keeps getting better," said PC Magazine Reviewer Konstantinos Karagiannis in the January 12, 2005 review of Spy Sweeper v3.5. "The latest version, 3.5, with its slight but effective improvements,...
Spyware > Will Microsoft Impact the Spyware and Adware Epidemic?
Free Spyware Removal Tools
There are many pseudo spyware removers out there, which intend to infiltrate your system under the pretence of an effective spyware removal tool. Many such spyware removal tools lured users and trapped them inside their own computers. Systems slowed down, crashed or were filled with spam. This reiterates the fact that users have to be extremely careful in choosing their free spyware removal tools.
Tools for effective spyware removal include those which scan, detect, eliminate and protect the system from potentially dangerous stuff. The first of these is of course, a spyware scanner like Spybot which routinely checks your system for unwanted material.
Make sure you use a pop-up blocker for your internet browsing engine.
Spyware Doctor is a powerful anti-spyware tool that can be downloaded for free into your system. It prevents any malicious and dangerous software from installing themselves on to the computer. This tool enhances your PC protection three...
Spyware > Free Spyware Removal Tools