Is there a difference really between "spyware" and trojans/viruses ?

[Vernor]

It looks likes Spyware has become so sophisticated and destructive with hidden DLLs., masquerading as Windows services, killing IE and your internet connection, crashing Windows Explorer.


How is that really different from viruses ?

 

[amdguy12389]

Technically a virus is somthing out of the ordinary causing harm, so yes technically most spyware/adware are viruses. However in the computer industry we classify spyware as spyware.

 

[MrChad]

There are a couple differences.

Viruses and trojans are specifically designed to damage data, corrupt software and proliferate themselves. Their authors are often anonymous and have been prosecuted by law enforcement.

Spyware (or, perhaps more appropriately, "malware") generally does not damage data, corrupt software or proliferate itself. It can be extremely annoying and difficult to remove, and in large quantities it can utilize so many resources that it renders a computer almost inoperable. But I have yet to hear of any spyware that actually causes permanent damage to a user's data. Many spyware authors are well-known companies, and I have yet to see any legislation raised against these authors.

 

[amdguy12389]

virus: 4: a computer program usually hidden within another seemingly innocuous program that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs and that usually performs a malicious action (as destroying data).

Some spyware does that.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: amdguy12389
virus: 4: a computer program usually hidden within another seemingly innocuous program that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs and that usually performs a malicious action (as destroying data).

Some spyware does that.

I've never seen spyware actually replicate and spread itself to other users.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: amdguy12389
virus: 4: a computer program usually hidden within another seemingly innocuous program that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs and that usually performs a malicious action (as destroying data).

Some spyware does that.

I've never seen spyware actually replicate and spread itself to other users.

The jerks that write spyware probably try to skirt the boundaries of what would be called a virus - then it would fall under the jurisdiction of the antivirus companies. That, and distributing viruses is illegal. Thus far, spyware is not.
I think the self-replication thing is a major sticking point - spyware doesn't seem to have that ability. If it did, then it could likely be called a virus or worm.

Ask the user deathkoba about spyware and the difference. He writes the stuff.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: amdguy12389
virus: 4: a computer program usually hidden within another seemingly innocuous program that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs and that usually performs a malicious action (as destroying data).

Some spyware does that.

No it doesn't (at least not yet), Spyware today does not self replicate (e.g. you infect one machine at home from some website it doesn't spread peer-to-peer from that machine to your others). That said, they are all variants of malicious code and you'll see the spyware and av industries simply merge and provide malicious code removal tools.

Bill

 

[amdguy12389]

"a computer program usually hidden within another seemingly innocuous program that produces copies of itself and inserts them into other programs"

WTOOLS.EXE

It hides itself, its a pain is the ass to delete, it makes copies of itself, inserts them into your browsers.

It also eats up system resources, making your computer slower, so it causes harm.

I would classify that as a virus, however it is made by a registered company operating within the law, so it is classified as adware/spyware.

Also if you save a page from IE and put it on a disk, then load it in a different pc, walla it spreads.

Dont mean to cause trouble, just trying to make a point.

 

[bsobel]

It hides itself, its a pain is the ass to delete, it makes copies of itself, inserts them into your browsers.

Yes, but it doesn't spread off box....

 

[S0Y73NTGR33N]

The only time I've seen spyware "replicate" as you call it is if you try to delete it it renames itself.... viruses just straight up replicate even if you do nothing

-green

 

[imported_Lucifer]

Spyware can go nuts sometimes! I was surfing the web without any anti virus or anti spyware programs (being the idiot I am) on my sisters fujitsu laptop. I went to a site called Oldie Lyrics, where many pop ups come up, and sometimes, even a virus will download to your desktop. Well, right when I entered the site, I got about 10 pop up windows. When I looked at the system tray, there were about 5 spyware apps installing. I could not do anything. The laptop locked up, until the spyware apps finished installing. I went out to my local computer shop, purchased Norton Internet Security (also comes with Norton Anti Virus) for 5 dollars. I then downloaded Ad Aware, scanned, and picked up a whopping 986 different forms of spyware/adware/malware. I then ran Norton Antivirus, and picked up one virus, the BagleW32.

After doing so, her lappy runs smooth. It was pretty much my fault that this happens. But spyware can be crazy!