Virus vs Malware vs Spyware: What’s the Difference?

Article Summary 

• Malware: Malware is a generalized term for any kind of malicious software, including viruses, spyware, ransomware, and more.
• Virus vs. malware: A virus is one type of malware that spreads by attaching to files and needs a user action to activate.
• Spyware: Spyware runs in the background, monitoring your activity and collecting passwords, banking details, and personal information without obvious warning.
• Phishing and protection: Phishing scams trick victims by impersonating trusted brands or entities to steal login credentials or personal data. To protect your devices from hackers, keep software updated, avoid suspicious links, and use a trusted antivirus.

An estimated 49% of internet users in the US have experienced a cyberattack. In many situations, this could result from a virus, malware, or spyware on tech devices. Given this reality, it’s unsurprising that when something goes wrong with a device, the words “virus,” “malware,” or “spyware” are usually the first thing people think of and panic over. 

However, there is a way to curb this panic, and that is to understand the difference between a virus vs malware and their differences with spyware. Once you understand the differences, you’ll realize that the way you handle one isn’t always the right approach for the others.

So, let’s dive into how viruses, malware, and spyware differ, and how you can stay safe no matter which one you may have to deal with.

What Is Malware?

In our experience at My Computer Works, when a laptop slows to a crawl, a phone starts throwing up random pop-ups, or a browser keeps redirecting to some sketchy website, the assumption is almost always the same. Malware.

But “What is malware?” This is a question mostly asked by new users or those who aren’t yet knowledgeable about computer security. It’s definitely an answer worth understanding before anything else, because viruses, spyware, ransomware, and every other threat covered here are all types of malware. 

The term itself is short for “malicious software,” and it’s the umbrella term that covers any program designed to harm a device, steal information, disrupt systems, or monitor activity without permission. Unfortunately, the list of what qualifies as malware is longer than you might expect. It includes viruses, spyware, ransomware, Trojan horses, worms, and adware. 

Each type of malware works differently, targets different things, and requires a different fix, so knowing which one you’re dealing with determines what you should do next.

Common Sources Of Malware

Malware usually gets onto a device through something the user did, and by the time it’s noticeable or really a big issue, the damage may already be done.

There are a few common malware entry points to keep in mind. These points include fake apps, malicious downloads, unsafe websites, phishing emails, fake browser popups, pirated software, suspicious text messages (also called smishing), and unsecured public Wi-Fi. 

What Is A Virus?

A computer virus acts similarly to the flu, but for your computer or phone. It spreads by attaching itself to files, programs, or documents. 

But it needs a user action to activate, whether that’s opening an infected email attachment, clicking a harmful link, downloading a compromised file, or running a program that’s already been tampered with.

Once it’s active, a virus can corrupt files, slow down your system, crash programs, or install additional malware in the background. Additionally, some are built purely to cause damage, while others drop ransomware or open a backdoor for someone to access the device remotely.

Signs You Have a Virus

Computer virus symptoms aren’t always obvious, nor do they all appear at a single time. 

Malicious downloads, fake apps, unsafe websites, and phishing scams can all introduce viruses to computers, tablets, and mobile devices. 

Here’s a look at a few of the common indicators you’re dealing with a type of virus: 

• Slow performance with no obvious cause.
• Random pop-ups are appearing outside of any browser.
• Apps are crashing or refusing to open.
• Files are disappearing or becoming corrupted, with no prior issues.
• The device overheats or restarts on its own.
• Strange error messages with no clear trigger.

Also, Mac users aren’t off the hook either, and dealing with viruses on Apple products can be tricky. If you think you have one, you should look into Mac-specific viruses to ensure you know how to resolve the issue.

What Is Spyware?

So, “What is spyware?” Well… unlike viruses that break things and corrupt, spyware stays hidden. In fact, as the name implies, spyware spies on your device. It monitors what you do on a device and collects data while making sure you never notice it’s running.

Typically, spyware can track passwords, banking information, browsing history, and keystrokes. It can also track messages, login details, and personal information, often sending that data elsewhere without anything appearing on your screen.

Signs of Spyware

Some of the signs of spyware can include:

• Experiencing sudden battery drain on a phone that had no issues before.
• The device overheating doesn’t match what you’re doing on the device.
• Higher-than-usual mobile data usage.
• Strange apps are appearing that you didn’t install.
• Browser redirects to sites you didn’t navigate to.
• Accounts getting locked or sending login alerts you don’t recognize.

Learning how to know if your phone has spyware or your other tech devices starts with paying attention to the above indicators that something isn’t right. One or two small changes might not mean much, but several of them showing up at the same time are a reason to run a scan.

How To Protect Your Devices From Malware

Protecting your devices from malware can be difficult if you have no clue where to begin. 

One of the biggest mistakes people make is simply installing an antivirus and calling it a day, but things aren’t that simple. 

If you truly want to protect against malware, there are a few habits you need to learn, whether you’re looking into computer or phone malware protection:

• Don’t click links in emails or texts you weren’t expecting, even if they look official.
• Avoid downloading pirated software, no matter how tempting the free version looks.
• Keep your operating system, apps, and software updated because many updates are designed to close known security gaps.
• Use trusted antivirus protection on your devices and keep it up to date. It doesn’t have to break the bank, and there are loads of reliable, affordable options.
• You should create strong and unique passwords. It is strongly recommended that you don’t reuse them across accounts.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication wherever available.
• Download apps only from verified sources like the App Store or Google Play.
• Skip sensitive account activity when you’re on public Wi-Fi.

Windows also has built-in security features worth knowing about, and it’s easy to turn them on with a few easy steps for added protection.

What To Do If You Think You’re Infected

If you suspect something is wrong, the sooner you act, the less damage is done.

If you need to remove malware from a device or remove a computer virus from a laptop or desktop, start here:

1. Disconnect your tech device from the internet immediately.
2. Run a full scan using your already installed antivirus or security software.
3. Remove any suspicious apps or programs you don’t recognize.
4. Change your passwords right away, and do it from a separate device if possible.
5. Back up important files if you can safely do so without spreading the infection.
6. Check your bank, email, and online accounts for any activity you didn’t authorize.
7. Contact a tech professional if the scans don’t resolve the problem.

Additionally, if ransomware is involved, hold off before making any payment. The whole thing is built to pressure you into acting fast, but paying does not guarantee your files will come back, and in many cases, it doesn’t. 

A tech professional can check whether a free decryption tool exists for the type of ransomware you’re dealing with before you spend anything. 

Get Help Protecting Your Devices

Following internet safety tips and virus protection steps, along with keeping software up to date, covers most common weak points. But some infections get through anyway, and some are more serious than a scan can clear. 

So, if your computer is behaving strangely, your phone is showing signs of spyware, or you’ve received a message you’re not sure about, our team at My Computer Works can help. We can evaluate the problem, tell you what’s happening, and share our thoughts on what we feel needs to be done.

A lot of people wait longer than they should, and catching something early is almost always easier to deal with than cleaning up after it’s had time to run. So stay safe and contact us today to keep your device safe and malware-free.