In computer technology, it cannot be avoided that all sorts of computer techniques are developed for whatever reasons that these are intended.
Both terms may sound technically the same but there is a twist to it.
A spyware is still another form or category of malicious software which is designed to cut off or intercept the control of the users of the Internet browsing activities without their consent.
Generally, the virus, which is different from those pop up ads, functions as it watches and logs on your Internet activities through the information that you send in the Internet through your individual computers.
It collects much information about you and especially the sites that you frequently visit.
The virus then sends whatever information that it is able to gather to an advertisement company.
If you are also familiar with the more recent versions of the virus issues, this malicious software can also track down and intercept your Internet communications such as personal identification numbers and account numbers that you key in the computer which the hackers can make use of to access your accounts.
This refers to malicious software that is used by phishers in most of their fraudulent scams.
This is considered as malicious software because the users are deceived to download the software product without them aware that they downloaded something else.
An example of a virus programs that is often downloaded is the peer-to-peer files swap products.
The concept again is to defraud the user to unintentionally download the software.
Once it is downloaded, the virus then is able to monitor your Internet activity and gather your personal information.
Among the things that virus is capable of is monitor your keystrokes to know your passwords and pins, to scan into your hard drives, to read your cookies and even change your home page.
On the other hand, the other malicious software takes in the form of pop up advertisements.
This kind of malicious software is able to display advertisements from the software manufacturers advertising clients.
The catch here is that these pop up ads can operate either with or without the consent of the users.
As a software package, it operates to put the advertisers' ads at an advantage position to the expense of the other Internet users.
Usually this software is developed and sold to advertisers in order for the advertisers to create automated display of their advertising materials on the websites that an Internet user frequently visits.
Not all advertisement supported software though is malicious.
In both products, the intention is to gather information with or without the consent of the user which the advertiser can use to promote their products or services.