Virus or adware? What is the difference
Related Videos: What's the Difference: Computer Virus vs Malware, vs Spyware, etc? (April 2024).
Not every unwanted program on your PC is a virus. You have often "only" caught adware. We explain to you in this practical tip what the difference is.
Adware or Virus: What is Adware?
What adware is, how it works and when it can be called a virus can be described as follows:
- Adware is a key word from "advertisement" and "software".
- Adware ensures that advertisements are displayed on your computer, for the collection of advertising-relevant data or leads you to the websites of advertising partners.
- This is done in particular via browser add-ons. That is why such programs are also called "browser hijackers".
- In this way, development costs are at least partially recovered. So the software can be offered free of charge; in itself a legitimate financing concept.
- Whether or not adware is malware depends in particular on whether you agree to the installation of this software and how it works.
- Trusted websites also offer downloads in which so-called installers with software bundles can be located. They have no influence on this, since they can only offer the program with the adware programs supplied.
- Therefore, always ensure during the download process that you do not download any additional software, for example by preselecting it with a check mark. In contrast, malware or viruses infiltrate without such advance notice.
Remove unwanted adware
If you have consented to the installation of an adware without being noticed, or if you have even installed an adware secretly, you can remove it later. Here's how it should work:
- You can usually remove adware from the Control Panel using this practice tip.
- You can find out how to remove add-ons in Internet Explorer, Chrome, Opera and Firefox in special CHIP online practical tips.
- We offer special practical tips for removing the following adwares: Box Rock, Claro LTD, Globasearch, GoHD, Go Save, iWin and Omiga Plus.
- You can remove most of the adware with the help of AdwCleaner and this CHIP image guide.
- You can also try the combination of Malwarebytes and this practical tip, Emisoft and this practical tip, Spyware determiner and this practical tip or Norman Malware Cleaner and this practical tip.
Get the first steps when you have caught a virus in this CHIP online practical tip. Another tip shows you how to fight real vermin like silver fish.