Adware /Spyware same ???

[Mike]

Hi all

Is adware the same as spyware ???

I run panda 2006 AV which includes Spyware............do I also need something to get rid of adware ????

Thanks

Mike

[Paul K]

More often than not it's horses for courses. Each tool specialises in a certain area so a lot of the time you should multi-layer your tools. I use a spyware/ malware tool daily, Anti-virus daily and adware software regularly.

[grubbymitts]

The media has mixed the two "wares" about so that they are thought of as the same, but they really aren't.

Adware generally is not malicious. All it is is a program that checks on your surfing habits and then feeds you adverts relating to the type of sites you have visited. Some adware, however, just sends you adverts (usually porn) regardless of your surfing habits. Most often as not, adware is more an annoyance than anything else as your PC can slow down because the adware is badly coded and uses up all your resources to display its warez.

Spyware, on the other hand, is another kettle of fish. Often you don't even know that this is on your pc. It can be used to send you adverts, but it is mostly used to steal information from you - passwords, credit card numbers etc. Spyware tends to be malicious, destructive once it has what it needs and a pain in the backside to remove. It may also zombie your pc so that your pc can be taken over by someone else and used in an attack on a corporation's computers for malicious, often criminal reasons.




A few years back nearly every other site you visited tried to put adware on your pc to "cover bandwidth costs". Now those same websites say that "Adware is evil" etc. Strange that.