malware : Java Glossary

A generic term covering computer program with malicious intent including viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, phishing, scareware, keystroke loggers and extortionware/ransomware.

You may need two tools, such as MalwareBytes to specialise in non-viral malware and F-Prot to specialise in traditional viruses.

Ideally a tool should be easy to temporarily turn off, without uninstalling because sometimes such software interferes with installs or probing links. It should have a small indicator so you know when it is engaged.

Viruses are a specific type of malware (designed to replicate and spread), while malware is a broad term used to describe all sorts of unwanted or malicious code. Malware can include viruses, spyware, adware, nagware, trojans, worms, ransomware… Your anti-malware software may or may not protect you against ordinary viruses, and your anti-virus software may or may not protect you against other types of malware. Anti-virus and anti-malware both work the same way, by scanning your files for malware signatures.

Keystroke loggers intercept and record your every keystroke, providing the bad guys with your passwords, bank accounts etc.