Author Topic: malware and virus  (Read 4137 times)

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malware and virus
« on: January 28, 2017, 12:20:38 AM »
hi there guys lately i been hearing that virus and malware are two different things so some people tell me that to be more secure i need one antivirus and one antimalware so is it true by the way im using avast free antivirus i just want to know if avast free antivirus when i do a full system scan cover both finding virus and malware .sorry about this topic is just that im not that good about stuff like this and i feel a little insecure at the moment so im asking here to see if you guys can make me feel better

Offline DavidR

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2017, 01:06:15 AM »
The Virus and Malware issue has almost merged into the one thing. Avast does cover both.

Nowadays true viruses are much less common, so all AVs (anti-virus programs) also cover malware. But there are anti-malware programs that can compliment an AV.

In very simple terms a virus infects files with a small piece of code being inserted inside the infected file, like a common human virus. The file can have the virus part removed from the infected file, thus being cleaned.

Generally malware relates to a complete file being malware, there is no infected part that can be removed as all of the file is malicious.
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Offline Eddy

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2017, 01:15:02 AM »
Every virus is malware, but not every malware is a virus.
A virus is just one of the many variants of malware.
Others are (not limited to):
- Browser hijackers
- Ransomware
- Trojans

The naming anti-virus is basically a misnomer nowadays.
In, what you could call "the old days", the only malware where viruses and that is where the name of the tools originated from.
A better name would be anti-malware (or something like that).

Unfortunately it is not possible to create one tool that protects your system from all harmful things.
If you would take all people from the best av vendors and give them the fastest super-computer, they still won't be able to create such a tool.
Look at it like a disease for humans or animals.
Scientists (doctors) and such, can only start looking for a cure if the the disease is known. (how it works, what it exactly does etc).

As for "defense" against malware it is the same.
A defense strategy can only be developed if the way of attack is known.

As there is no tool that can detect/protect against everything it is a must to run multiple tools for the best protection.
I recommend to have at least McShield, Kasperky and Mbam.
Although they do overlap, each can detect things the other can't.

But security doesn't start with a tool, but with what the user knows and does !
I've seen system infected with over 20 different malware.
Guess why ?
There where security tools installed and they gave a warning.
But the user had no clue what they meant and/or what to do, so the user just clicked on continue and not on "fix". :(

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2017, 09:05:24 AM »
The word Malware is short for malicious software, and is a general term used to describe all of the viruses, worms, spyware, and pretty much anything that is specifically designed to cause harm to your PC or steal your information.


Encyclopedia > https://securelist.com/encyclopedia/

« Last Edit: January 28, 2017, 07:37:46 PM by Pondus »

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2017, 05:34:10 PM »
big huge thanks guys now i feel much better i was just curious about the difference of both

Offline bob3160

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2017, 02:33:50 PM »
"I recommend to have at least McShield, Kasperky and Mbam."
I recommend McShield, Avast and MBAM. :)
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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #6 on: February 04, 2017, 04:25:30 AM »
i have to not recc mbam anymore its just getting entirely to heavy on the systems if you do use it do not run it real time. but i honestly would say just run avast if you really are paranoid use hardened mode, i also would not use mcshield i have seen WAY WAY to many systems where it just pegs the cpu i only recc it if you need to run it. personally for logs i prefer hijackthis. imo the average user is fine running something like avast. and with the new stuff being added to avast imo it will be better then ever before.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2017, 04:30:07 AM by TheDrizzle »

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #7 on: February 04, 2017, 12:33:51 PM »
Sorry but HijackThis is old tech.
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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #8 on: February 04, 2017, 01:26:10 PM »
@TheDrizzle
Quote
i also would not use mcshield i have seen WAY WAY to many systems where it just pegs the cpu i only recc it if you need to run it.
I guess what you have seen is mcshield.exe that belongs to McAfee
https://www.google.no/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=mcshield.exe


MCShield USB protector use no system  resources as the program is dormant until a USB device is plugged in, then it scan and goes to sleep again



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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2017, 07:38:05 PM »
Sorry but HijackThis is old tech.

still works great for getting logs and system info imo

Offline Eddy

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2017, 07:42:26 PM »
No it doesn't as it is not working on the latest Windows version.

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2017, 07:49:49 PM »
No it doesn't as it is not working on the latest Windows version.

not sure what you mean i just ran it, running most current version of windows 10 plus ran it on the insiders version as well.... the only thing it could not do was open the host file unless ran as admin. again i only use it for a quick scan of the system nothing more.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2017, 07:52:03 PM by TheDrizzle »

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2017, 07:52:51 PM »
@TheDrizzle
Quote
i also would not use mcshield i have seen WAY WAY to many systems where it just pegs the cpu i only recc it if you need to run it.
I guess what you have seen is mcshield.exe that belongs to McAfee
https://www.google.no/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=mcshield.exe


MCShield USB protector use no system  resources as the program is dormant until a USB device is plugged in, then it scan and goes to sleep again

ahh yes you are correct i was thinking of the wrong one. mc shield vs mcshield.exe. you are correct.

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2017, 07:54:34 PM »

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Re: malware and virus
« Reply #14 on: February 04, 2017, 08:03:32 PM »
and i agree with many of them i use it as a more of a last result type of scanner. but it can be useful in certain situations and it gives you a reasonable view of the system when you are not in front of it. and yes it is a bit old. i do not use it for any kind of cleaning. for example this will show me which av's they have installed or multiple if so, most major programs, etc no it will not tell all on the newest version of windows but it can be helpful as i said when you are not in front of the machine.

also now farbar scan tool is much better as well imo this is really the go to tool now. and is what i should have included in the list instead of hijackthis.


but i can no longer recc malwarebytes to be run realtime its just a huge system hog now imo. malwarebytes is great for an on demand scanner imo prob one of the best there is for on demand or for an install then remove type of thing. i have recently seen it bring systems to their knees and they were not low end cheap systems (i7-7700k overclocked, 32gb ram etc system ran like total garbage after installing malwarebytes and ran fine once it was removed)
« Last Edit: February 04, 2017, 08:26:02 PM by TheDrizzle »