To understand the difference between Antivirus and Anti-Malware, it is necessary to first understand what a virus is and what malware is. It might sound simple, but it is a confusing matter for those who are trying to deploy security systems for their home PCs or event vast IT infrastructures.

What is a virus?

A computer virus is much like the flu virus (where it derives its name from) that spreads from system to system and has an ability to duplicate itself. Executed intentionally or unintentionally it modifies other computer programs by inserting its own code and causing unexpected and damaging effects. It is basically a malicious program and thus can be categorized as malware. Virus which is a type of malware – malicious software – is a term that is widely used by the public. It rose to fame in late in the 90s and has affected almost half of the world’s computers and systems at some point or the other, claims a report. Now, let’s understand what is a malware…

What is malware?

As mentioned above, it is any unwanted malicious code that is designed to harm and contaminate the host system. It can include everything from viruses, spyware, trojans, worms, adware, nagware and others. It also includes an advances malware called ransomware that is used to commit virtual financial frauds. Let us look at some of the above threats in short…

Spyware: This malicious software is installed on a computing device without the knowledge of the end-user to track his or her activities. Deriving its name from spying, this software does exactly that and gather information about the person or organization and sends it to the attackers without any consent or permission of the user. Tojans, adware, cookies, keyloggers are certain types of spyware.

Trojans: This word comes from the deceptive Trojan horse that was used as a subterfuge by the Greeks to smuggle an army into the impenetrable city of Troy. Likewise a computer Trojan Horse enters a system by establishing utmost trust but then perform mischievous activities like stealing information, taking over the system, making network source unavailable, etc.

Worms: The primary function of a computer worm is to infect other computers and remain active of these systems. They might not steal anything but definitely cause harm to the system by consuming bandwidth or destroying files,

Adware: This advertising-support software is the most annoying malware ever since it presents ads that users encounter while installing something. It is programmed to generate revenue for the creator by supplying him information on the type of sites the user visits and thus present him related content. Not all of it causes any harm but can be affect your computer’s performance.

Now that we know the difference between malware and virus, it will be easier to understand what is Antivirus and Anti-malware. When these harmful programs enter your systems they can do a lot of damage. Apart from spoiling your programs, they can also steal from you by getting illegal access to your financial details online. Thus, software and IT companies have come up with various types of tools that can help prevent or resolve such infections. Antivirus software gained super popularity when viruses started affecting systems all over the world. They help erect a shield of protection around your systems so that viruses cannot get in. Similarly, there are many anti-malware software which are believed to provide wider protection. However, since malware is a broader term, it is important to understand which software helps with what kinds of malware.

For example, a certain software can scan your system for as much as possible but can it provide protection against malwares that affect your PCs when you are surfing, installing applications and opening files. While another software can give you an on-access antivirus scan another can provide and on-demand anti-malware scan and cover all your fronts. The tool also needs to be updated with all the new security issues that are popping up daily across the World Wide Web.

Scanning Tools

There are many tools available in the market that can scan your systems for viruses and malware. A certain combination of tools is always helpful to cover all corners and get protection against most types of malicious software in case you are a data-critical organization. Various options include Norton, McAfee, Avast and others. While these will provide you a cover for your system, what about your websites and applications?

Web Assets & Scanning

In case you are an entrepreneur or a well-established enterprise, most of your business and reputation is governed by your online presence. Your website is proof of your service and securing it is as important as ground security that an office employs. Today, robbers are not attacking banks or offices, they are attacking the websites of these banks and offices to steal critical data virtually. These attacks can take place when hackers can spot vulnerabilities in your sites. A survey by WhiteHat Server Security demonstrates that 86 per cent of all websites have at least one serious vulnerability. So what can you do? Plug in the loopholes by installing a premium web application scanner that comes in flexible packages and provides you with instant hourly, daily, weekly or monthly report on real-time basis.

All virtual world threats need to be systematically tackled with through a brainstormed security infrastructure inclusive of Server and Network Isolation, High End Cisco anomaly guards, Cisco Firewall, Anti-virus, Anti-spoof technology, Private VLANs, SSL Certificate, and more. It is necessary that organizations have the required tools to dissuade all efforts to compromise customer data.

ESDS’ VTMScan – Malware, threat and security scanner — has been developed specifically to safeguard web assets. Tools like  ESDS VTMScan are growing popular among organizations since they can detect thousands of types of malware. Equipped deep and proof-based scanning, the ESDS VTMScan software performs activities like robust  link crawling, banner grabbing, CMS detection, Malware Scan including page defacement, JS Codes, Iframe check, etc., Content Change Monitoring, OWAS Audit, LFI RFI detection, domain reputation check, SSL Scan and phishing.