Adware, spyware, malware and viruses: what are they?

For the average person who only uses their computer to send emails, perform basic Internet searches, buy the occasional item on Ebay, the terms Adware, Spyware and Malware mean very little. But it is precisely these people who should know what these things are and how they can protect themselves from them.

ADVERTISING

Adware is used to describe advertisements and pop-ups that arrive on your PC uninvited. They are basically harmless, although they can be annoying. They’re a bit like the old junk mail that tends to fill up our mailboxes. Although it’s a bit of a pain to have to take it out of its box, walk over to the recycle bin and throw it away, it’s harmless!

In fact, some of the programs we use frequently have this feature built in. They include Spotify, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, the Ask Toolbar, just to name a few.

SPYWARE

Spyware is exactly as the title suggests: a way to spy! Spyware offers a way for individuals and businesses to spy on the contents of your hard drive. These people can see what you’ve been looking at on the Internet (which some companies only use for market research). Others have more sinister agendas in mind, such as accessing your bank and financial details.

MALWARE

Malware: Abbreviation for malicious software. There’s your answer. It is any form of spyware with the intent to harm. The classic example of this is a virus. A virus is deliberately transmitted to your computer with the intent to destroy some or all parts of your operating system.

Now that I know, what do I do?

There are many programs available to help you detect and protect your computer against adware, spyware, and malware. Some are free and others have to be purchased. Unfortunately, this is something you need to continually update, as hackers are constantly adapting their software and viruses to get around the latest security programs.