DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPYWARE AND MALWARE

Spyware Definition Spyware is malware that infects computers and other connected devices and secretly records your online habits, the sites you visit, and your online purchases. Some types of spyware also store your passwords, IDs, and credit card numbers. This information is then passed on to the author of the spyware, who either uses it for personal gain or sells it to a third party. Like other types of malware, spyware is installed on your computer without your knowledge. They usually accompany legitimate software that you downloaded intentionally (a file sharing program for example, or other free software or sharing application), but you can also download it unintentionally by visiting malicious sites or clicking on links or attachments to infected emails. As soon as you install it, the spyware attaches itself to your operating system and runs quietly in the background. The term "spyware" was coined in the mid-1990s, but the software itself has been around much longer. ...