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Difference between Scareware and Adware

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1. Scareware :
Scareware is a form of malware that is malicious software that poses as legitimate computer security software and claims to detect a variety of threats on the affected computer that do not actually exist. The users are then informed that they have to purchase the scareware in order to repair their computers and are barraged with aggressive and pop up notifications until they supply their credit card number and pay up the desired amount for the worthless scareware product.

2. Adware :
Adware is not exactly malicious but they do breach privacy of the users for malicious purpose. They display ads (a pop up window appear) on computer’s desktop or inside individual programs. They mainly come attached with free to use software, thus main source of revenue for such developers. They basically monitor your interests and display relevant ads. An attacker may embed malicious code inside the software and adware can monitor your system activities and can even compromise your machine.



Difference between Scareware and Adware :

S.No. Scareware Adware
1. Scareware is a tool to help fix your system but when the software is executed it will infect your system or completely destroy it. Adware is similar to a spyware and it can be both intrusive and difficult to eradicate.
2. It is more harmful as compared. Adware is less harmful.
3. Scareware can be detected in browser by pop up notification and removed by the Antivirus and firewall. Adware can be detected and removed by the antivirus program.
4. It give unauthorized access and control of the system to the hackers. It provides profit to the developer by generating online advertisement.
5. Scareware is one of the type of malware. Adware is one of the type of malware.
6. It displays windows- style popups.  It displays a software.
7. In this, user should immediately close the browser. In this, user should restore the PC to gain access.
8. DriveCleaner, WinAntivirus, ErrorSafe, WinFixer and XP Antivirus are some of the examples of scareware. Fireball, Appearch, Gator and dollarrevenue are some of the examples of adware.


Last Updated : 24 Sep, 2020
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