Whenever you connect your PC to the Internet, it becomes a very vulnerable machine. Every time you log on to the World Wide Web, chances are you will see the ads warning you what horrible things are going to sneak their way into your hard drive. Malicous code sneaking into your computer can destroy years of hard work. It can email your credit card numbers to a criminal mob. It can give identity thieves a way to assume your very name. So, it seems to make good sense that the very first thing you want to do before you ever log on to the net is to find a reliable software package. You need something to help protect your computer against ever possible Internet intruder. But what kind of software should you get? Do you need anti-spyware software or anti-virus software or both?
Let's take a look at what anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are designed to protect your computer against. A virus is a short string of code that attaches itself to your hard drive. It comes into your PC through files entering surreptitiously from the Internet. When viruses are activated, either via a timer or when you click on their file names, they launch their attacks. They can delete your data, edit your registry, or just slow everything to a crawl.
Spyware likewise comes in to your computer from the World Wide Web, but is also found in otherwise useful software. Many software designers write spyware code into programs so they can see how you use their product. The idea is to make a better version later, but your permission to them to do this is usually buried in the fine print of your user agreement. The harm spyware does to your PC is not glaringly obvious. What spyware does is to start finding and transmitting data about you and your computer. First thing you know, spam chokes your email inbox. Or you get an unexplained credit charge, maybe just a little one. Or your identity is assumed by a criminal ring and Homeland Security arrests you and sends you off to Guantanamo Bay. The only sure way to know whether your computer is infected by spyware is to run a detection program. But a warning sign is your computer running slow.
So, what's the difference between anti-spyware and anti-virus software? Well, most of the time, your computer protection these days provides both. Checking for new spyware and virus definitions every week, your protection software will scan your hard drive regularly to make sure it is not infected.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs integrate themselves seamlessly into your email and web browser. This function ensures that malicious programs never infect your computer in the first place. Stand-alone anti-spyware software may perform the same function, but it is usually more about deleting files that have already infected your computer. Anti-spyware often provides a tool that scans websites you are about to visit. The anti-spyware program will stop you from logging on and warn they contain malicious code or have been reported as installing spyware on other computers.
To keep your computer secure and free from viruses and spyware, your best option is to obtain software that protects you from both. Anti-virus software and anti-spyware software in the same software suite offer you a more complete, reliable protection against the ever growing number of harmful programs that threaten your PC from the World Wide Web. - 30432
Let's take a look at what anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are designed to protect your computer against. A virus is a short string of code that attaches itself to your hard drive. It comes into your PC through files entering surreptitiously from the Internet. When viruses are activated, either via a timer or when you click on their file names, they launch their attacks. They can delete your data, edit your registry, or just slow everything to a crawl.
Spyware likewise comes in to your computer from the World Wide Web, but is also found in otherwise useful software. Many software designers write spyware code into programs so they can see how you use their product. The idea is to make a better version later, but your permission to them to do this is usually buried in the fine print of your user agreement. The harm spyware does to your PC is not glaringly obvious. What spyware does is to start finding and transmitting data about you and your computer. First thing you know, spam chokes your email inbox. Or you get an unexplained credit charge, maybe just a little one. Or your identity is assumed by a criminal ring and Homeland Security arrests you and sends you off to Guantanamo Bay. The only sure way to know whether your computer is infected by spyware is to run a detection program. But a warning sign is your computer running slow.
So, what's the difference between anti-spyware and anti-virus software? Well, most of the time, your computer protection these days provides both. Checking for new spyware and virus definitions every week, your protection software will scan your hard drive regularly to make sure it is not infected.
Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs integrate themselves seamlessly into your email and web browser. This function ensures that malicious programs never infect your computer in the first place. Stand-alone anti-spyware software may perform the same function, but it is usually more about deleting files that have already infected your computer. Anti-spyware often provides a tool that scans websites you are about to visit. The anti-spyware program will stop you from logging on and warn they contain malicious code or have been reported as installing spyware on other computers.
To keep your computer secure and free from viruses and spyware, your best option is to obtain software that protects you from both. Anti-virus software and anti-spyware software in the same software suite offer you a more complete, reliable protection against the ever growing number of harmful programs that threaten your PC from the World Wide Web. - 30432
About the Author:
Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at SpywareRemovalDoc.com the leading Spyware Removal Software provider.
