Malware and viruses are terms often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. The major difference in malware vs viruses is their capabilities. Malware is short for “malicious software,” and is any program designed to cause damage or compromise a device’s security. A virus is a piece of malware designed to replicate itself from one device to another through networking protocols.
Even though there are differences between these two types of threats, both present significant risks to device and data.
As mentioned, a virus is a type of malware, but malware is not a virus. Malware is any malicious program that is designed to disrupt device operation, steal sensitive information, or gain access to private systems. Malware is used by cybercriminals and other bad actors as a tool to accomplish their goals, usually in concert with social engineering techniques.
Viruses, on the other hand, are malicious code fragments spread through networks causing damage to your system, damage to your hardware, or even data loss. They self-replicate, but unlike other types of malware (such as Trojans), a virus cannot spread without human intervention. Viruses contain a payload, which usually causes undesirable effects once a device has been infected with it.
What Types of Devices Can Get Malware or Viruses?
PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones, and servers are all vulnerable to malware and viruses. To protect your devices from malware attacks, make sure you have up-to-date security software installed and run regular scans.
Security software will be able to remove malicious software that has already infected your device and prevent existing threats from infecting your device in the future.
Be sure to keep all security software and operating systems updated with patches for any new vulnerabilities discovered.
