| What is the difference between adware, | | | | you to schedule it in your scheduler task to run |
| spyware, malware and virus? | | | | on every Sunday or any day that you like it to |
| Before we find the distinction between the three | | | | run. |
| terms, one main issue to highlight is that you | | | | Another is AVG, it started of as one of the top |
| would not want to have any of them in your | | | | free personal anti virus solutions, now it has |
| system. | | | | already diversify to provide other security |
| Adware: Adwares are software applications that | | | | solutions like anti-spyware. One thing that is good |
| are supported by advertisements (Advertising | | | | about AVG is that a fully functional trial version will |
| Software). It automatically display advertisement | | | | revert to a free version after the trial period. And |
| when the software is running. It is one of the | | | | while it is fully functional, it can be run in the |
| way a programmer can offer his application at a | | | | background to provide continuous protection |
| reduce cost or even for free. Most of the time, a | | | | against adware and spyware for your system. |
| license can be bought to remove the | | | | After the trial, both AVG and Lavasoft provide |
| advertisement permanently. | | | | similar functions of on demand update and |
| Spyware: Spywares are a progression from | | | | scanning. |
| adwares. In order to provide the user of adwares | | | | Working on both application is relatively straight |
| with more targeted advertisements, various | | | | forward, it is strongly recommended that you |
| forms of statistics and information on user's | | | | download the latest definition file and do a |
| activity on the system is tracked and sent to | | | | complete scan for your system during the initial |
| advertising companies. Sometimes these are done | | | | installation. There after, before every regular scan, |
| under the hood without user's knowledge and | | | | do remember to update your definition file. |
| consent. Like spying on your habits and activities | | | | During the scans, likely hood is that you will |
| on your computer. Thus the term spying | | | | discover tracking cookies. These usually can be |
| software. | | | | safely deleted. |
| Malware: Malware are malicious software that | | | | 2. Anti-virus |
| affects the normal functionality of your system. | | | | Both AVG and Avast! offers great protection for |
| Sometimes, annoying pop up will appear out of no | | | | your computer. Just download from the |
| where to direct you to some sales sites. | | | | respective site. Personally, i am using Avast! and |
| Sometimes emails spams will automatically be | | | | will go deeper on it. Whatever the functionality, |
| sent from your system. Adware and spyware | | | | parallel can be drawn for AVG too. |
| progress to a malicious state if it start to affect | | | | After you install Avast! it will prompt you for a |
| the use of your system actively instead of just | | | | registration code, this can be obtained from |
| showing you passive advertisement. | | | | Avast! website for free. |
| Virus: Virus are malware that spreads and installs | | | | For me, Avast! anti-virus is an install and forget |
| themselve without the knowledge of the system | | | | about it solution. After the initial installation, do a |
| user. You may open an infected file and once the | | | | update of the virus database and allow Avast! to |
| file is opened, the virus will installs itself on your | | | | run in the back ground. Avast! will automatically |
| system and wait for chance to propagate to the | | | | download virus definition file and any program |
| next unsuspecting user's computer. Some even | | | | updates that is available. After the initial installation |
| have the capability of transmitting themselves via | | | | and set up, you are protected on the following |
| the network to infect other system in the | | | | fronts: |
| network. Some virus (trojan horse) will enable | | | | * Instant Messaging * Internet Mail * Network |
| some backdoor to allow access of your system | | | | Shield * Peer to Peer (P2P) Shield * Standard |
| to unauthorized party. Removal of Adware, | | | | Shield * Web Shield |
| Spyware and Malware. | | | | It give you a well rounded protection on the |
| There are many rock solid commercial applications | | | | different fronts where a virus may infiltrate your |
| for the removal of adwares, spywares and | | | | system. |
| malwares and it is interesting to note that these | | | | 3. Firewall With todays reliance on the internet, |
| companies often release a version that is free for | | | | Firewall is one of the must have for both business |
| personal use. Of course these free versions come | | | | and personal computers. It is your first level of |
| with some form of restriction. But still they would | | | | defense against external threads. It is very useful |
| suffice for your personal computer. | | | | in the detection and blocking of adware and |
| Three main weapons against Adware, Spyware | | | | spyware. |
| and Malware. | | | | As most adware and spyware will try to connect |
| 1. Anti-spyware / Anti-Adware program | | | | to the internet, your firewall will warn you of the |
| Two main companies i want to introduce here. | | | | application's attempt to connect to the network. |
| First is Lavasoft. It is one of the first company to | | | | An important point to note is that we should |
| conceive the idea of coming up with adware / | | | | always check and verify the connection attempts |
| spyware removal software and to date, they are | | | | and not just blindly "Allow" access to the internet. |
| still the leading provider of Anti-spyware / adware | | | | A couple of comprehesive and free firewall |
| solutions. They have a free personal version | | | | solution can be found at Comodo or ZoneAlarm. |
| available for download. | | | | Although Microsoft includes a build in firewall, it is |
| The restriction on the free version is that there | | | | no where near in comparison to what comodo or |
| are no automatic updates and it does not run in | | | | ZoneAlarm offers. |
| the background. Therefore, it would take some | | | | Do remember to disable the Windows Firewall |
| amount of discipline to run manual checks on your | | | | when you replace it with either Comodo or |
| system regularly. It would be also be possible for | | | | ZoneAlarm. |