Online Security And The Three Types Of Wares You Should Know About

Amidst the buzz of jargons you encounter online, at least three of them are easy to remember: the adware, the spyware and the malware. All three of them are software and all of them end with “ware” but other than this, what else do you know about them? Check out this list to understand how each one is similar and at the same time different from each other.

• ADWARE. The “ad” in adware stands for advertisements. This type of software generally contains advertisements that are tailored according to your surfing activities and shopping preferences. Among the three types of wares, the adware is perhaps the least offensive because the software is rarely launched unless you sign and accept the terms and conditions stipulated in an end user license agreement. Such agreements are usually found in free downloadable and shareware sites.

As always, the tricky part is that you are often just tempted to immediately check the “I agree” button because the agreement is too lengthy to read and more often than not, you're too excited to get your hands on the freebie software which you've just downloaded. Adware compromises your online security by monitoring the sites that you visit, then sends this information to third parties, the companies who have ads targeted at potential buyers like you.

• SPYWARE. The “spy” in spyware hints of the true nature of spyware: secretly monitoring your surfing activities. Unlike the adware which at least requires you to sign and accept the terms and conditions of an end user license agreement, the spyware operates without your permission and knowledge. It is usually launched when you open attachments from unknown sources, and click executable files and links in popup windows or messages.

Like the adware, spyware compromises your online security by not only monitoring the sites that you visit but by also gathering the information that you've entered in the site. What are at stake are your login details, passwords, credit card numbers, contact information and a whole load of both useful and seemingly useless data that can be used by third parties for their own selfish ends. To name a few, data gathered by spyware can be used by third parties to max out your credit limit or to rob you of your identity.

• MALWARE. The “mal” in malware somewhat has Spanish origins and is associated with the word “bad.” The “mal” can also be just a short cut for the adjective “malicious.” Generally, malware is a term that encompasses the whole brigade of software which can pose hazards to both the unsuspecting and most paranoid computer users who are connected to the internet. Attacks may occur online and offline.

The attacks of malware on a computer may result to sensitive data being compromised, recorded and stolen, changes in the setup and running condition of the computer unit, as well as computer crashes and ultimately, computer failure. The types of software that belong to the collective label “malware” range from mild adwares, stealthy spywares and very harsh viruses.