Although if the security guidelines recommended by the experts are followed it is difficult to get infected, the truth is that the so-called malicious software is lurking on our mobile. We have seen how even the official bazaars, from where they recommend us never to leave to install an app, have hosted this type of malicious content. But what is the difference between viruses and malware?
Cybercriminals know that Android users fatten the majority of active smartphones in the world. They are full of personal information and sensitive data , which are a juicy breeding ground for threats to be constant. On many occasions the term mobile malware and virus is referred to, but what they really are.
Viruses and malware is it different?
In many cases, both terms are used synonymously with what we consider to be malicious software. The clear difference is that malware is a generic term, while viruses are specific types encompassed within the prevailing malware. Malware is software developed to try to infect and damage the host’s system or its users. As we will say, the virus is a type of malware and in the same way that not all viruses are malware, not all malware is viruses. It is curious to remember how the first malware that appeared in the 1970s were called “viruses”. For its part, the first antimalware programs published in the 1980s and 1990s were called “antivirus” which was the prevailing problem in those days and the greatest fear of any PC. Mobile malware would come much later.
Although this can be somewhat convoluted, the bottom line is that malware includes many harmful programs such as spyware, adware or dangerous ransomware (file hijacking). The virus, on the other hand, can copy itself, spread through our devices and infect other hosts. The virus code can be more or less sophisticated and spread with more or less control over the software it infects, being able to delete files, damage reading discs or perform unwanted actions.
Is it easy to get infected?
Email is a common method for the spread of malware and viruses . Downloads outside of Google Play or following false SMS , as we have seen recently, can also be the cause of its entry on our mobile. But as we say, many times they have passed the security filters of Google Play, disguising themselves as simple help applications in the form of flashlights, calculators or colorful puzzle games.
