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This page provides an overview of the most common malware applications. For specific steps you can take to protect against malware, see our Protect Against Viruses & Security Threats pages.

What is Malware?

Malware is a catch-all term for various malicious software, including viruses, adware, spyware, browser hijacking software, and fake security software.

Once installed on your computer, these programs can seriously affect your privacy and your computer's security. For example, malware is known for relaying personal information to advertisers and other third parties without user consent. Some programs are also known for containing worms and viruses that cause a great deal of computer damage.

Types of Malware

  • Viruses which are the most commonly-known form of malware and potentially the most destructive. They can do anything from erasing the data on your computer to hijacking your computer to attack other systems, send spam, or host and share illegal content.
  • Spyware collects your personal information and passes it on to interested third parties without your knowledge or consent. Spyware is also known for installing Trojan viruses.
  • Adware displays pop-up advertisements when you are online.
  • Fake security software poses as legitimate software to trick you into opening your system to further infection, providing personal information, or paying for unnecessary or even damaging "clean ups".
  • Browser hijacking software changes your browser settings (such as your home page and toolbars), displays pop-up ads and creates new desktop shortcuts. It can also relay your personal preferences to interested third parties.

Facts about Malware

Malware is often bundled with other software and may be installed without your knowledge.
For instance, AOL Instant Messenger comes with WildTangent, a documented malware program. Some peer-to-peer (P2P) applications, such as KaZaA, Gnutella, and LimeWire also bundle spyware and adware. While End User License Agreements (EULA) usually include information about additional programs, some malware is automatically installed, without notification or user consent.

Malware is very difficult to remove.
Malware programs can seldom be uninstalled by conventional means. In addition, they ‘hide’ in unexpected places on your computer (e.g., hidden folders or system files), making their removal complicated and time-consuming. In some cases, you may have to reinstall your operating system to get rid of the infection completely.

Malware threatens your privacy.
Malware programs are known for gathering personal information and relaying it to advertisers and other third parties. The information most typically collected includes your browsing and shopping habits, your computer's IP address, or your identification information.

Malware threatens your computer’s security.
Some types of malware contain files commonly identified as Trojan viruses. Others leave your computer vulnerable to viruses. Regardless of type, malware is notorious for being at the root, whether directly or indirectly, of virus infection, causing conflicts with legitimate software and compromising the security of any operating system, Windows or Macintosh.

How do I know if I have Malware on my computer?

Common symptoms include:

Browser crashes & instabilities

  • Browser closes unexpectedly or stops responding.
  • The home page changes to a different website and cannot be reset.
  • New toolbars are added to the browser.
  • Clicking a link does not work or you are redirected to an unrelated website.

Poor system performance

  • Internet connection stops unexpectedly.
  • Computer stops responding or takes longer to start.
  • Applications do not open or are blocked from downloading updates (especially security programs).
  • New icons are added to desktop or suspicious programs are installed.
  • Certain system settings or configuration options become unavailable.

Advertising

  • Ads pop up even when the browser is not open.
  • Browser opens automatically to display ads.
  • New pages open in browser to display ads.
  • Search results pages display only ads.

If you're seeing some of these problems with Chrome, you might have unwanted software or malware installed on your computer:

  • Pop-up ads and new tabs that won't go away
  • Your Chrome homepage or search engine keeps changing without your permission
  • Unwanted Chrome extensions or toolbars keep coming back
  • Your browsing is hijacked, and redirects to unfamiliar pages or ads
  • Alerts about a virus or an infected device

In the future, avoid unwanted software by only downloading files or visiting sites that you know are secure.

Learn how to block or allow pop-ups in Chrome.

Step 1: Remove problematic apps

  1. On an Android phone or tablet, press and hold your device's power button.
  2. On your screen, touch and hold Power off 
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    . Your device starts in safe mode. You'll see "Safe mode" at the bottom of your screen
  3. One by one, remove recently downloaded apps. Learn how to delete apps.
    • Tip: To remember the apps that you remove so that you can add them back, make a list.
  4. After each removal, restart your device normally. See whether removing that app solved the problem.
  5. After you remove the app that caused the problem, you can add back the other apps that you removed. Learn how to reinstall apps.

Step 2: Protect your device from problematic apps

  1. Make sure Play Protect is on.
  2. Open your Android device's Google Play Store app
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    .
  3. Tap Menu  
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     Play Protect.
  4. Turn on Scan device for security threats.

Step 3: Stop notifications from a certain website

If you're seeing annoying notifications from a website, turn off the permission:

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app .
  2. Go to a webpage.
  3. To the right of the address bar, tap More
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    Info
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    .
  4. Tap Site settings.
  5. Under "Permissions," tap Notifications.
    • If you don't see "Permissions" or "Notifications," the site doesn't have notifications turned on.
  6. Turn the setting off.

More info about malware

How to spot malware (video, 1:42)

How to avoid malware in the future

  • Watch out for things that look too good to be true. Winning a contest or getting expensive copyrighted content at no charge is sometimes a trick to get you to download malware.
  • If you haven't recently run a virus scanner, be wary of warnings about viruses or infected devices. The site might be trying to scare you into downloading unwanted software.
  • Only download files or visit sites that you know are secure. Learn more about healthy browsing.
  • Use Safe Browsing in Chrome and set your protection level to Enhanced protection.

If a popup about updating or downloading a program looks suspicious, don't click on it. Instead, go to the program's official website to download it.

To identify unwanted software that's been installed and remove it, run a Safety Check:

  1. In your address bar, enter chrome://settings/safetyCheck.
  2. Select Check now.

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Is a software package that automatically pop

Adware is an "advertising-supported software" that displays ads on websites and collects data on a user's behavior for marketing purposes. Adware generates revenue for a company through display and pay-per-click advertising. Not all adware is malware.

Is a software package that automatically pop

Adware, also known as advertisement-supported software, generates revenue for its developers by automatically generating adverts on your screen, usually within a web browser.

Which software application automatically downloads advertisements?

Generically adware is a software application in which advertising banners are displayed while any program is running. Adware can automatically get downloaded to your system while browsing any website and can be viewed through pop-up windows or through a bar that appears on a computer screen automatically.

What is adware software?

Adware definition. Adware is unwanted software designed to throw advertisements up on your screen, most often within a web browser. Some security professionals view it as the forerunner of the modern-day PUP (potentially unwanted program).