what is the difference between spyware and adware?

Answer 1

Basically none, spyware refers mainly to software which spies on every computer operation to collect information about your computer habits. Adware refers to software which monitors your Internet activity to show you advertisement from sites related to what you visit. There is a third kind: malware which means software which does nothing but force you to see certain publicity (and perhaps hijack your browser's home page).

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Answer 2

the line between the two has been somewhat greyed over the past few years, but the main difference is that spyware gets into your computer and reports your surfing habits to someone, while adware gets into your computer and causes popup advertisements to appear.. most of the time when people have spyware they don't even know it.. adware is pretty obvious because you can get popups even when you're not on the internet.. sometimes spyware and adware are combined though.. it monitors your surfing habits and then gives you advertisements based on your interestes.. regardless, both are annoying and should be gotten rid of ASAP..

Answer 3

An adware program will cause pop-up adds to appear continually on your PC. They can also change your home page and take you to a certain web sites without your permission. A spyware will search out information on your PC and send it back to the creator of the program. It may be only Internet usage data, or it could be passwords, credit card information, etc.

Most adware and spyware programs are a combination of both. For instance, the adware program wants to know WHAT pop-ups to put on your screen, so it "spys" on your Internet usage and then informs it creator so they can target the right kind of pop-ups to your PC.

Answer 4

adware is just annoying popups and stuff trying to make sales. Spyware records stuff on your computer and sends it to somebody else. spyware can record your keystrokes, scrteen shots, traffic passwords financial info like bank accounts and balances card numbers and again passwords. nasty stuff.
there is some overlap and it can be hard to tell when spyware is adware or adware is spyware, they are both classed with other softwares as malwares meaning not good. If you have XP there is a free "malware removal tool", there is "spybot search and destroy" which is a freeware program, you should also be running antivirus in your firewalls and most firewalls come with anti-spyware and anti-adware features

Answer 5

Spyware simply tracks where you've been on the Internet (and can possibly track your keystrokes). Adware actually can hijack your homepage or force advertisements onto your screen. Adware can also redirect you, over and over to a designated page and not let you surf.

I keep them both removed and immunized with SpyBot search and destroy.

Answer 6

Spyware is a malicious programme thats harmfull for u'r pc like virus but not a virus. And Adware is google's ad management tools where u can register and put google adds to u'r designed site .

Answer 7

Adware generates ads on your computer for you to see, usually in the form of annoying popups. Spyware tracks your computing activities and reports them to whomever is programmed to receive reports.

Answer 8

Neither affect Macs.

http://www.apple.com/getamac

Answer 9

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