Malware And Spyware - Are They The Same Thing?
December 1st, 2008

Everyone has heard of Spyware, it is that nasty program that gets into your machine and causes havoc. It redirects you when you are not expecting it, it messes with your browser settings, and most of the time, it comes by way of the unsuspecting users allowing it in. There is another face to this coin however, in the name of Malware. This program runs off similar parameters, and has a chameleon like effect. Considering they are of the same bloodline, is it easy to ascertain that they are the same problematic bug?

Here is a look at the roots of the Malware and then you can judge for yourself. It was back in the year 1949 that the notion of a computer program that could self-reproduce was recognized. This is what is known as the theory of complicated automata. Malware uses encryption that is rudimentary, as it is self-obfuscating. This is the case where detecting a computer virus would become more difficult, as algorithmically challenging the main systems programming. The Malware is indeed quite resistant to reverse engineering. Once it is in, the notion is that it will be a definite chore to remove it. This seemingly passive, yet vary evasive program uses a public key and is known to the computer savvy as a crypto virus. When this virus attacks, it drops plain text data on the machine of the user. This by all means is a hybrid of the regular run of the mill Spyware, by all accounts. Finding the maker of the said Malware is pretty much the only way to get rid of the encryption of the plain text issue that has been installed.

This being said, Malware is indeed a form of virus and would be placed on a person's computer without their consent. Its sole purpose is to infiltrate and destroy. There is another name for this virus; lawmakers call it as scum-ware. There are no absolute features of this virus, more the intent of the creator of the said pest to harm someone else's machine. Many times people confuse Malware with a program that may have a bug on it, or the program is defective. Generally malicious software is created to infiltrate and cause harm on the intended machine. Sometimes the intent is not to harm at all, rather just to annoy, yet considering no one really knows what is going on in someone else's computer leads to the destruction of their files. It was more of a prank than the MS-DOS viruses, and Internet worms where developed, not as was first believed that they were harmful. It is often thought that the young programmers of these bugs are merely playing around, just curious as to what the bug can really do, or how far it will spread throughout the Internet.

This is not to say, that there is not a bug without hostile intent involved. Many times the bug is set in motion to corrupt data, or loose file systems all together. This is where data junk is placed on the hard drive itself. The idea that someone could come into your system and corrupt it or vandalize it for sheer pleasure just goes to show you the lack of maturity, and respect some people have for the rest of the population. Worms are often noting more than a nuisance that leaves graffiti tag, so to speak where ever it goes. Revenge is also a great motivator for these absolutely ridiculous programs, a form of get back for this gone bad between friends or peers. This unfortunately is not uncommon, as people leave forms of backdoors or time bombs, meant to completely mess up a system by reason of resentment. Now the basis of malicious software is primarily profit motivated. It is now the case and point that no, Malware is not like Spyware. The latter of the two, being a pest and follows your movements. Malware is a malicious program, and attacks the file system, and logs on your machine. Pretty much it is only Malware that is a virus, Spyware is more of a tactic to monitor your movements and behaviors. This is for the purpose of marketing and sales pitches

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