Question:
Difference between spyware remover and antivirus software?
2007-06-16 21:44:57 UTC
Name them
Twelve answers:
2007-06-16 21:49:02 UTC
Spyware Removers focus on Spyware and ignore viruses. Like, for example, Yahoo AntiSpy.



Antivirus remove the whole gamut of infections, like, for example Avast/



Cheers!



ST
?
2016-08-22 15:04:29 UTC
2
James
2007-06-17 03:57:31 UTC
Well spyware removers or antispyware focus only on spyware and adware while antiviruses generally (but depends on the brand) handle everything including spyware.



In theory antispyware are better at detecting spyware/adware (although tests I have seen matching antivirus and antispyware don't bare this out), and removal (this may be true).



Antispyware also generally have registry protection to detect generic changes like when your homepage is set to something else or a program is set to autostart. But now antiviruses have them too.



To be honest other than that, there is not much practical difference between the two, since they both use similar methods of detection (by signatures).



The only reason why there is an antispyware industry is because when such threats started emerging, antiviruses were slow to respond and as such it gave an opening for antispyware companies to emerge.
2007-06-16 21:55:09 UTC
Spyware remover focuses only on the spyware in you computer antivirus software is a program that helps keep you from getting any type of virus and alerts you to any on your computer so it can be removed before it causes any longterm damage.
2007-06-16 22:29:49 UTC
In simple terms::

spyware are some programs or software that can pose a threat to ur computer over the net.i.e by gathering user information remotly over the net.

antivirus removes viruses that corupt ur computer files and even ur system and cause problems.(ex of viruses:happy birthday joshi)

one more thing some antivirus have antispyware to!
life_will_be_ok
2007-06-16 21:49:12 UTC
they are different types of things that can harm your computer



a virus may be more fatal than a spyware, but less noticeable



while a spyware usually includes a lot of pop ups and other things like that



its best to have the antivirus software on at ALL times and the spyware to scan weekly...



i use Avast! antivirus and Comodo pro firewall, and scan weekly with adaware se...all are free and can be found at download.com



they work great
Pawan
2007-06-16 22:11:11 UTC
Spyware remover removes a spyware:

Spyware is a general term used to describe software that performs certain behaviors such as advertising, collecting personal information, or changing the configuration of your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent first.



Spyware is often associated with software that displays advertisements (called adware) or software that tracks personal or sensitive information.



Other kinds of spyware make changes to your computer that can be annoying and can cause your computer slow down or crash.



These programs can change your Web browser's home page or search page, or add additional components to your browser you don't need or want. These programs also make it very difficult for you to change your settings back to the way you originally had them.





And an antivirus removes virus:

In computers, a virus is a program or programming code that replicates by being copied or initiating its copying to another program, computer boot sector or document. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a downloaded file, or be present on a diskette or CD. The immediate source of the e-mail note, downloaded file, or diskette you've received is usually unaware that it contains a virus. Some viruses wreak their effect as soon as their code is executed; other viruses lie dormant until circumstances cause their code to be executed by the computer. Some viruses are benign or playful in intent and effect ("Happy Birthday, Ludwig!") and some can be quite harmful, erasing data or causing your hard disk to require reformatting. A virus that replicates itself by resending itself as an e-mail attachment or as part of a network message is known as a worm.



Generally, there are three main classes of viruses:



File infectors. Some file infector viruses attach themselves to program files, usually selected .COM or .EXE files. Some can infect any program for which execution is requested, including .SYS, .OVL, .PRG, and .MNU files. When the program is loaded, the virus is loaded as well. Other file infector viruses arrive as wholly-contained programs or scripts sent as an attachment to an e-mail note.



System or boot-record infectors. These viruses infect executable code found in certain system areas on a disk. They attach to the DOS boot sector on diskettes or the Master Boot Record on hard disks. A typical scenario (familiar to the author) is to receive a diskette from an innocent source that contains a boot disk virus. When your operating system is running, files on the diskette can be read without triggering the boot disk virus. However, if you leave the diskette in the drive, and then turn the computer off or reload the operating system, the computer will look first in your A drive, find the diskette with its boot disk virus, load it, and make it temporarily impossible to use your hard disk. (Allow several days for recovery.) This is why you should make sure you have a bootable floppy.



Macro viruses. These are among the most common viruses, and they tend to do the least damage. Macro viruses infect your Microsoft Word application and typically insert unwanted words or phrases.



The best protection against a virus is to know the origin of each program or file you load into your computer or open from your e-mail program. Since this is difficult, you can buy anti-virus software that can screen e-mail attachments and also check all of your files periodically and remove any viruses that are found. From time to time, you may get an e-mail message warning of a new virus. Unless the warning is from a source you recognize, chances are good that the warning is a virus hoax.
2016-04-01 05:00:15 UTC
Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's permission. Spyware programs are commercially produced for the purpose of gathering information about computer users, showing them pop-up ads, or altering web-browser behavior for the financial benefit of the spyware creator. For instance, some spyware programs redirect search engine results to paid advertisements. basically spyware are under the malware category but having comercial intension.
ehrlich
2007-06-16 21:48:45 UTC
Spyware remover is remove programs that pose a threat to your computer like trackers and antivirus is to keep your computer from getting a virus(like trojan) and it searches your hard drives for viruses to be contained or removed.
momsboys2@sbcglobal.net
2007-06-16 21:56:31 UTC
i had this same question last year. a spyware remover is a program that searches your computer for virus's like a Trojan horse which i got. it may take a week before your computer shows signs of having a virus and spyware will search for those and antivirus like Norton searches for know virus's like a worm virus that will cause your computer to run slow
2007-06-16 22:05:31 UTC
Spyware is a "spider" that watches over your computer so another person can take advantage of it. A virus is a "bug" that directly messes up your system.
2007-06-17 06:54:01 UTC
For all computer related problems please check out

http://computer-probs.blogspot.com/

It not only gives complete solutions but also offers

free downloads of effective softwares which can detect

and eliminate all spy ware /virus /ad ware /Trojans completely.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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