Viruses, Spyware and Malware
Viruses
Viruses are menacing programs created for the sole purpose of wreaking havoc on a computer or network. They spread when you download suspect software, visit shady Websites, or pass around infected discs. Computer viruses take many forms..
How Can a Computer Be Protected from Viruses?:
Install an anti-virus program and keep it up-to-date and regularly run scans.
Never download and install software from the Internet unless you are certain it is from a trusted source.
Don’t open e-mail attachments unless you have scanned them first, even a picture can carry a virus.
Don’t trust cracked or hacked software as they often contain malware, Trojans.
Spyware
Spyware typically differs from traditional computer viruses, which may try to shut down your computer (or some of its programs). Authors of spyware aren’t necessarily out to shut you down. Rather, they quietly attempt to monitor your behavior so that they can benefit at your expense by tracking your behavior and secretly reporting it to third parties. Windows users are all too familiar with spyware.
More info:
At the lesser extremes, your computer is served pop-up ads that companies hope will eventually lead to a purchase. This type of spyware is known as adware. At its most severe, spyware can place your personal information in the hands of a not-so-nice person. Under those circumstances, you could get totally ripped off. Indeed, the most malicious of spyware programs, called keyloggers or snoopware, can capture every keystroke you enter, whether you’re holding court in a public chat room or typing a password.
Malware
Malware is short for malicious software. Malware is the name given to any type of software that could harm a computer system, interfere with and gather a user's data, or make the computer perform actions without the owner's knowledge or permission.
How can I tell if I have a malware infection?
Your computer slows down. One of malware’s main effects is to reduce the speed of your operating system, whether you’re navigating the Internet or just using your local applications.
A tidal wave of annoying ads that shouldn’t be there washes over your screen. Unexpected pop-up ads are a typical sign of a malware infection.
Your system repeatedly crashes, freezes, or displays a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death), which can occur on Windows systems after encountering a fatal error.