Given the proliferation of other kinds of malware, antivirus started to provide protection from other computer threats too, such as: trojans, keyloggers, rootkits, backdoors, phishing attacks or botnets, but limited to the classic ones.Īntivirus is often called an anti-malware program, and people tend to use both terms interchangeably, by mistakenly thinking that antivirus programs can address all types of malware, which is not the case. This being said, the conclusion is that: a virus is a malware, but a malware is not always a virus.Īntivirus (AV): What It Is and How It WorksĪntivirus software is a piece of software originally designed to offer protection against computer viruses (as its name suggests). Some viruses can cause harm to endpoints, such as deleting files, corrupting data, or displaying unwanted advertising. A virus might attach itself to a program or file so that it is executed when the program is run, or the file is opened. Viruses are a type of malware that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. Trojans are malicious programs that masquerade as legitimate programs in order to trick you into installing them. Adware displays unwanted advertising on your computer. Spyware collects information about you without your knowledge or consent.

Malware can include viruses, spyware, adware, and trojans. Malware is a general term used to describe software that is harmful to your device. That being said, before we jump into the waves of antivirus and antimalware, let’s see what the difference between virus and malware is: Malware When it comes to choosing security software, many people are usually confused about the two terms – “antivirus” and “antimalware” – failing to understand what the difference between them is. The best way to combat these online threats is to keep your system safe using an antivirus program, anti-malware software or both of them. But with the vast array of antivirus and anti-malware programs available, it can be difficult to determine which one is best for your needs.Ī successful malware attack has great impact on both users and organizations, causing data loss, financial issues, or disrupting operations. Protecting your computer from malicious attacks is an important part of keeping it safe and secure.

Is malwarebytes an antivirus