Difference between Scareware and Virus

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. Virus :
A virus is a malicious executable code attached to another executable file which can be harmless or can modify or delete data. When the computer program runs attached with virus it perform some action such as deleting a file from the computer system. Virus can’t be controlled by remote.

Difference between Scareware and Virus :

S.No.	Scareware	Virus
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.	A Virus is a malicious executable code attached to another executable file which can be harmless or can modify or delete data.
2.	It is less harmful as compared.	It is more harmful.
3.	Scareware can be detected in browser by pop up notification and removed by the Antivirus and firewall.	Antivirus software are used for protection against viruses.
4.	It give unauthorized access and control of the system to the hackers.	It can control data and resources, cause error, destroy system and slow down the performance.
5.	Scareware is one of the type of malware.	Virus 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.	Resident and Non -resident viruses are two types of Virus.