There seems to be a general misconception that there is no major differences between malware and viruses and that they cause same issues. However, the topic is more complicated than it seems. The question of malware vs virus is an essential one to grasp and it will be fully covered in the article.
The conceptual difference between these malicious applications
Malware, as it is obvious from its name, is a term that describes malicious software that was created to bring harm to the system where it is opened. A virus can also be included in the malware category, which means that all viruses can be identified as malware, but not vice versa. A software virus usually can copy itself and share the data on different operating systems, which makes it similar to the biological diseases.
Main types of malicious software
Here is a breakdown of the malicious software application that people can usually encounter:
- Fileless malware
- Virus
- Trojan
- Worm
- Spyware
- Adware and Pop-up Ads
- Ransomware
The list can go on but these are the types that occur most commonly. Here some objectives of this malware;
- Trick the victim into giving out their personal information which in turn is used to sell the sensitive data of the user;
- Theft of banking information of the user;
- Using of the user’s computer resources to mine different crypto currencies.
The main reason people usually see no difference between different types of malicious software
The confusion we face now is because of a faulty name recognition, when people hear a word several times, it tends to stick. Since the term “virus” has already sunk deep into people’s minds they consider every malicious application a virus.
The viruses was actually the first type of malicious software to appear which adds to the confusion too.
The short guide on how to identify the types of malware
The good news is that different types of malware have similar features. The most common one is the slow functioning of the device’s operating system; it is a strong sign of the infection with a malicious software.
Sometimes it can be challenging to identify the certain type of the malware precisely. In any case, it is essential to take measures right after you have identified the infection to prevent its spreading to other devices in the network.
Final Thoughts
Many site owners assume that they are not an interesting target for a hackers, but that is wrong because usually they are more interesting in unprotected small websites. With good security, there is no need to fear cybercriminals, no matter form of attack they choose. We aim to educate everyone on the difference between malware and viruses and also spread awareness to everyone.