Differences Between Virus, Trojans, Spyware..

The Internet has become one of the greatest technological achievements of the century, but as is usually the case, the Internet also has a dark side. We’re referring to all the threats that lurk on the web, ready to infect our computers as soon as we take one wrong step. These threats are usually known viruses, trojans and spyware.

Nevertheless, the first step in solving a problem is to truly understand what you’re dealing with. Many PC owners refer to all of these threats simply as “viruses”, but that’s a rather generic term. Let’s find out the main differences between these threats, and why you shouldn’t mistake one for the other.

What are Viruses?

In a nutshell, a computer virus is a program that has the ability to infect a PC, while copying itself and spreading from one file to another. When sharing an infected file, a virus is capable of infecting the target computer as well, further spreading and multiplying.

Viruses are generally designed to wreak havoc on your computer, by corrupting and deleting files. In the worst case scenario, viruses can make your computer inoperable, until you completely disinfect it using anti-viruses, or by formatting the HDD and re-installing a fresh copy of the OS.

What is a Trojan?

Unlike viruses, trojans are malicious programs that don’t have the ability to replicate themselves. Trojans also cannot infect a computer without the consent of the user, so in theory, they shouldn’t be a threat at all. Who would want to infect his or her computer anyway? Well, the trick is that trojans come disguised as harmless or useful programs. Once the user agrees to unknowingly install a trojan, the program usually create a “backdoor” on the machine, allowing remote access to the PC.

A computer infected with a trojan can be used for DoS attacks in order to attack websites, proxy servers, or for sending spam.

What are Spyware?

The term Spyware defines a wide range of malicious programs that are designed specifically for gathering personal information on the user. Most often than not, spyware come in the form of keyloggers, which register and learn passwords as well as credit card numbers. They generally register keyboard strokes and capture screenshots.

The information is then sent back to the creator of the spyware, which can use the personal information for nefarious purposes – usually for stealing money from bank accounts, breaking into email accounts and more.

That’s all for today, and remember. Keep your computer safe, and keep your anti malware software up to date.