Recently a customer of ours had trouble getting online (and therefore not able to receive emails). We did a bit of problem solving and it turned out to be his Anti-Virus software blocking Internet Explorer.
However, along the way, I recommended that he purchases and installs some Anti-Spyware software. He did so but asked by did the Anti-Spyware find things that the Anti-Virus software missed.
The answer is that they are looking for different things.
- Viruses are malicious pieces of software that once you ‘catch’ them, they infect your computer in various ways. Once you’re infected you need to be disinfected. AntiVirus software does this. So, it’s treating the symptoms of ‘illness’. The software should be sophisticated enough to also root out and remove any Viruses that are sitting on your computer dormant.
- Spyware is also malicious but it’s job is to sit on your computer, not affecting your files or functionality, but recording and broadcasting information about your activity or data to others. Your computer isn’t ill because of the presence of such software, but it can be slowed down by all the extra processing it has to do.
You really need to have both on your computers.
If you have any experiences about viruses or spyware or the software used to control these, do post your comments here.
Warm regards,
Cat Young
www.solve-the-web.co.uk
Well done on the educating!
So many dont understand what and why they need these programs to stay safe while online.
Dont forget to tell them to check their Firewall.
By: Doug Woodall on 07/07/2008
at 11:38
[...] – bookmarked by 3 members originally found by rwelle on 2008-10-06 What’s the difference between Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus software? [...]
By: Bookmarks about Spyware on 24/10/2008
at 20:15
hi and thanx for the info – what i’m wondering about is this: does it help to have multiple antivirus or antispyware programs on your computer at the same time?? i have avg free, and spybot, but neither of them are picking up on whatever it is that’s infecting my computer….HELP! ANYONE?????
By: nick on 20/08/2009
at 18:08
Hi Nick
Thanks for your question regarding multiple Anti Spyware and Anti Virus programs.
In my experience you should NOT have multiple Anti VIRUS programs as they do tend to interfere with one another, slow your machine down and cause problems with things like sending emails. What we do, though, is regularly change our allegiance. We find an AntiVirus software provider we like, stick with them until their programs get cumbersome and slow and then move on to a newer, more lithe provider. If you do this, you should uninstall the original AntiVirus program first.
However, regarding Anti SPYWARE, we have found it useful to run different programs. They do seem to pick up different things. And if you are using free software this differences seem even more pronounced.
The absolute best protection software available (in my opinion) in Sophos. If you can afford this, then you need no other protection.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Cat
By: catyoung on 24/08/2009
at 17:44