is there any diffrance bettween malware, adware and spyware ?

Answer 1

Malware- Any type of malicious program that affects your system preformance, registry values, or programs. Can do a number of things, ranging from slowing your computer down to deleleting/change values on a computer.
*note*All potentially malicious or unwanted programs are refered to as malware. Things such as viruses, worms, spyware, etc are different catagories of malware.

Spyware: Programs or sometimes tracking cookies that are used to send information to other people without your knowledge.

Adware- Programs that display constant popups or sometimes change your homepage to a different site. Occasionally, adware is a side effect of having Spyware on your computer.

*edit* Mac computers are not comply immune to internet viruses. While they are immune to many viruses due to the lack of a win32 or other window exclusive files, it is still possible for them to get infected.

Answer 2

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. It includes a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. The various kinds of malware are viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, adware, and other malicious and unwanted software.

Spyware refers to a broad category of malicious software designed to intercept or take partial control of a computer's operation without the informed consent of that machine's owner or legitimate user. Notable software distributed with spyware include Kazaa, Morpheus, and EDonkey2000. Spybot Search & Destroy by Patrick Kolla is the best program to remove Spyware (it removes Adware as well).

Adware or advertising-supported software is any software package which automatically plays, displays, or downloads advertising material to a computer after the software is installed on it or while the application is being used. Well-known adware programs include Bonzi Buddy, Cydoor, Gator and Smiley Central. Ad-Aware by Lavasoft removes Adware.

Thus, spyware and adware are types of malware. Other malware includes viruses, worms and trojan horses. For removing these it's best to use an antivirus software.

The occurence of malware is less in Linux/MacOS compared to Windows.

Answer 3

Yes there is a bit of small differences between the three.

Malware - (MALicious softWARE) Software designed to destroy, aggravate wreak havoc, hide potentially incrimination information, and/or disrupt and damage computer systems.

Spyware - Software that sends information about your Web surfing habits to its Web site. Spyware is often installed without the user%u2019s knowledge or explicit permission in combination with a free download.

Adware - Advertising that is integrated into software. Adware is often combined with a host application that is provided at no charge as long as the user agrees to accept the adware.

Answer 4

Yeah there's a difference. I'm not sure if this is right, I'm just guessing..

Malware - Sort of stuffs your computer up (then again they all do)

Adware - Those annoying ads that try to stuffup your comp

Spyware - Trys to take control of your computer

Answer 5

Malware is the common name for all malicious programs such as spyware,adware keyloggers ,trojan horses and so on.
Adware slows down your computer performance and can deliver unexpected web search results.
Spyware collects your personal data such and transmit it over the network.

Answer 6

Malware is rouge code that can allows unauthorized access to a system to a third party who has no buisness being on it or it
may also be a destructive worm written by a hacker to take over thousands of computers for what purpose? anything He want to ddos a sight he doesn't like or he may want to create
a bot net to disguise his location who knows.

Adware is placed in software to generate revenue for a
company for software they release on the net.

Spyware is again rouge code that stealthily sends statistics
and information about a user without his consent or knowledge
it's difficult and sometimes impossible to remove without alot
of effort.

Answer 7

Malware will make your computer sick (slowing performance)

Adware will give you those ad popups (or redirect your machine to someplace you probably don't wanna go)

Spyware - well, it spys on you. Sending your information to someone you don't know.

Answer 8

Not really my current favourite term for malicious software is griefware

Answer 9

Have a look here for two of the definitions:

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/2004/spyware.asp

Answer 10

Get a Mac and you can lump them all in the same category: Software that you don't have to worry about.

http://www.apple.com/getamac