What's the difference (if any) between anti virus and spyware?

Answer 1

Anti-Virus software helps prevent your computer from becoming infected with viruses. Spyware is really a misnomer. The real term should have been Malware. Spyware typically means that there is software on your computer that is reporting to someone somewhere what your computer is doing, where you go on the internet, etc. Adware is malicious software that typically provides you with unsolicited advertisements like popups. Adware is typically referred to as spyware...
Along with "spyware" software and anti-virus software, you should keep your Microsoft updates current. Anti-virus software will typically keep viruses from infecting your computer, but you may still get messages that a virus has been detected and removed. Microsoft updates will typically prevent the viruses from even getting to your computer automatically in the first place. Confused? I know I am....

Answer 2

Anti virus utilities help to protect you from viruses. A virus is a computer program written to alter the way a computer operates, without the permission or knowledge of the user, by hiding in other program files.

Spyware is computer software that collects personal information about users without their informed consent.

So these do different things. However, you can have a virus that is spyware.

Answer 3

Viruses and spywares are programs launched in the net by people to meet their self intrests. Spywares reside in your PC and spyes your actions. Virus is meant for affecting the normal performance of the PC. I can give a few links that offer free virus and spyware removers...! Norton, AVG , Avast are free antivirus software. Ad-aware, Ewido are free spyware removers. You can download free softwares at
http://fixit.in/antivirus.html and http://fixit.in/spywareremover.html

Answer 4

Well lately the definitions are blurring, but in general yes there is a difference. Spyware aims to bring you advertising, and does not really intend on causing harm to your computer (but they are so poorly written that they usually do.) Viruses are written to cause you damage with no real intent on serving you advertisements . ( IE a virus may format your hard drive)

Trojan horses, are the worst because they are spy programs that seek to steal your information by giving an intruder access to your computer, or logging your key strokes.

Worms use your computer to multiply and send to other insecure computers, or your friends.

Answer 5

Anti-virus protects you from viruses and anti-spyware protects you from spyware. You nee both on your system. I found a good list here. http://www.basicspywaretips.com/

Answer 6

an antivirus spread and the goal is to kill your computer. Spyware wants to spy on you so it wants to keep your computer running. Gennerally spyware will just slow down your computer while the virus will shut it down.

Answer 7

most virus are spread through IE. IE is not a safe browser. you should use a more secure browser to protect your PC from virus.

i recommand you to use firefox with Google toolbar. firefox can block any any popup and disable any virus and adware, spyware on webpage, so, firefox is much safer than IE browser. as you know, most of virus spread throught internet and webpage.

besides, firefox is much smaller than IE, so it run faster than IE.

download firefox for free, Just have a try:

http://www.freeandbest.net/firefox/

Merry Xmas !!! Happy NewYear !!!

Answer 8

antivirus simply kills viruses where spyware searches, detects and deletes spy programs from your cache (a folder where the computer stores information, graphics upon browsing webpages)

Answer 9

Words r self explanatory

Virus ...spreads


Spyware...Spies on you