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Thread: Difference between spyware and a virus?

  1. #1
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    Difference between spyware and a virus?

    This is a great question.

    Spyware is software that sneakily gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without its knowledge like emails, passwords and credit card information. Spyware does not copy itself. Antispyware software will discover and remove spyware from the computer.

    A computer virus is a program that is maliciously downloaded (usually through an URL or link attachment) onto your computer without your knowledge and can replicate/copy itself that can crash your entire system. Antivirus programs will scan and remove any potential viruses.

  2. #2
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Then there is scareware or scumware?

    These are totally useless fake security products that little garbage heaps try to tout to the unwary over the internet.

    I am sure that my fellow moderators and administrators will be watching the next post in this thread very carefully.

  3. #3
    Gonzo District BOFH westin's Avatar
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    You can buy my security product to protect yourself from both for $49.95 a month!
    \"Those of us that had been up all night were in no mood for coffee and donuts, we wanted strong drink.\"

    -HST

  4. #4
    Senior Member gore's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by westin View Post
    You can buy my security product to protect yourself from both for $49.95 a month!
    Are you repackaging BSD as a Security Product and jacking the price up? lol

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by hgibbonsprt View Post
    A computer virus is a program that is maliciously downloaded (usually through an URL or link attachment) onto your computer without your knowledge
    No, that's a trojan.

    can replicate/copy itself that can crash your entire system.
    A properly written virus does not crash your system. The whole purpose of it's existance is propagation and avoiding detection. Crashing a system would certainly indicate something is wrong and would only attract attention.

    A virus is self-replicating code that needs other executables to attach itself to. A worm is self-contained, self-replicating code.
    Oliver's Law:
    Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

  6. #6
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    Spyware

    The Spyware achieved important data such as your credit card or account passwords of other users know ..

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    Both spyware and viruses cause damage to computer or cause to lose important information.

  8. #8
    Senior Member nihil's Avatar
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    Is samuelwilliam a bot?

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by SirDice View Post
    No, that's a trojan.


    A properly written virus does not crash your system.
    Why do I bother, then?

    He means that a virus stays contained in the system it infected and does not actively seek out connections through the interbutts. A trojan is just something that tries to maintain an active connection from the infected target to whatever the host, or owner, may be....

    Get infected and play with it. Windows can't kill the only thing good about it. That's DOS, and all of it's commands.
    Every now and then, one of you won't annoy me.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by hgibbonsprt View Post
    This is a great question.

    Spyware is software that sneakily gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without its knowledge like emails, passwords and credit card information. Spyware does not copy itself. Antispyware software will discover and remove spyware from the computer.

    A computer virus is a program that is maliciously downloaded (usually through an URL or link attachment) onto your computer without your knowledge and can replicate/copy itself that can crash your entire system. Antivirus programs will scan and remove any potential viruses.
    Spyware is a specific type of unwanted software that covertly collects your information. A virus is a specific way software can be covertly distributed, often by e-mail. Both spyware and viruses can cause damage to your computer or cause you to lose important data.

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