What’s the Difference Between Virus and Spyware?
November 18, 2007 – 9:46 amA computer virus is small software designed to infect a computer without the knowledge of the user. The term is also a synonym to many various types of malware programs. The virus can easily spread from one computer to another through a host taken to an uninfected computer. Although, virus can attack systems through many vectors, the general medium to spread it is sending over the Internet.
Increasing use of Internet is making the spread of malicious code easier. The viruses designed today may use network services as the World Wide Web, email, and file sharing.
There are several similarities between a virus and spyware. Both are potentially destructive and created to ruin the computer’s efficiency for monetary gains. They are uninvited and disturbing in nature.
Unlike a computer virus, spyware does not spread directly and attempts to infect a system either through deception of the user or by exploiting software vulnerabilities. Also, both of them differ in behavior which is the best way to distinguish them. A virus is self replicating and tries to infect as many computers as possible whereas a spyware does not always self replicate.
The way in which these viruses and spyware are written can also set them apart. Majority of viruses are created by malcreants with an objective of gaining profits. Viruses are written with a purpose of setting benchmarks in virus programming. On the other hand, spyware targets to ruin the functionality of targeted computer and remain attached to it till its purpose is solved.
The process of virus removal has become simple with the help of antivirus, a computer programs that attempt to identify and destroy the computer viruses and other malware.
In addition to virus removal, installing antivirus software safeguards your PC by offering automatic updates. Once a virus is detected, the antivirus quarantines thereby preventing it to spread. It then tries to eliminate it and repair any file damage caused. Likewise, the computer programs designed to remove or ruin spyware is called anti-spyware.
Installation of Anti-spyware provides real time protection against the spyware software on your computer. It works in the same way as anti-virus does and scans incoming network data for spyware software.
