If you had to guess, what would you consider a bigger threat to your device — a virus or malware? Trick question. Although viruses and malware are often listed as two distinct types of threats for your devices, the former is actually a type of malicious software, falling into a similar category as ransomware, Trojans, and bots. Let’s talk about the difference between malware and viruses, and how you can protect your devices from software-based threats.
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The core differences between viruses and malware explained
The main distinction between malware and viruses is that all viruses are malware — not the other way around. Malware (short for malicious software) is the umbrella term for computer programs and phone apps designed to damage systems, networks, and devices or to steal internal data. Users can accidentally install malware by downloading and opening files from phishing emails or spoofed sites. However, sometimes legitimate software can be corrupted to act maliciously.
A virus is a specific kind of malware that infiltrates a device to execute a specific destructive action, like funneling files to criminals or corrupting the system. It attaches to a host file and self-replicates in the system to spread and infect more files. Some viruses are developed to compromise the device immediately, while others can lie dormant. Simply downloading a file that contains a virus usually doesn’t cause issues. However, if you install and open this software, the virus can take root in the device. You can also accidentally infect your device through hardware like CDs and flash drives.
Virus vs. malware: Comparison at a glance
| Virus | Malware |
|---|---|
| Specific software that infects a device | A range of malicious software |
| Depends on a host file | Can exploit vulnerabilities without a host |
| Requires user action to execute | Can be executed remotely without the user’s input |
| Self-replicates from the host file | Spreads autonomously |
| Transmitted via infected attachments, file sharing, and hardware (CDs and flash drives) | Transmitted via phishing attacks, spoofed websites, corrupted software, and malicious code |
| Disrupts systems, deletes or corrupts files, self-replicates to infect the broader network | Disrupts and damages systems, steals data, gains and grants unauthorized access, logs keyboard input, converts devices to bots, spies on user activities, mines cryptocurrencies |
| Easier to detect | Can be stealthy and evade detection |
| Can be removed by deleting or cleaning infected files | Can be resistant to removal attempts |
| Operates at the application or file level | Operates at the application, file, or firmware level, depending on the type |
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Beyond viruses: Other common types of malware
Although viruses are among the most common malware types that can cause damage to your devices, they’re just one of many digital threats under this umbrella. Other common types of malware include:
Trojan horses. Trojan horses disguise themselves as legitimate apps.
Ransomware. Ransomware encrypts files on the device and demands a ransom to decrypt them. Cybercriminals use AI ransomware to automate attacks.
Adware. Adware forces ads to display on the user’s device. Although it doesn’t always act maliciously, adware can be used to collect user data and sell it to third parties to push more persistent targeted ads.
Spyware. Spyware monitors and steals sensitive data from devices. Cybercriminals often use spyware on phones to target activists and political figures.
Keyloggers and touchloggers. A keylogger records the user’s keyboard input and is used to collect personal information, login and banking details, and other sensitive data. Mobile devices can be targeted by a type of keylogger known as a touchlogger.
Worms. Worms are self-replicating malware that can propagate without human input.
Botnets. Botnets are networks of compromised devices known as bots that are used to execute distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS) and disrupt performance.
Fileless malware. Fileless malware uses compromised legitimate programs to infect a device without leaving any footprints. It doesn’t require files to execute actions, making it extremely hard to detect.
Rootkits. Rootkits grant cybercriminals remote control of a device or network by exploiting backdoor access. They’re usually located in the kernel and are nearly impossible to detect or remove.
Cryptojackers. Cryptojacking forces corrupted devices to mine cryptocurrency when they’re on. Due to the heavy processing power required in mining, cryptojacking can significantly slow down device performance.
Rogue software. Rogue software pretends to be a legitimate security tool that deceives users into thinking their device is infected by a different virus. It forces users to pay to “upgrade” and access additional cleanup features. Instead, it gains access to their financial information and the files on the device.
Hybrid malware. A combination of two or more malware types. For instance, spyware can run alongside a touchlogger to record mobile data and screen input.
Red flags: How to tell if your device is infected
Viruses and other malware can be hidden deep in your device and go unnoticed until they start causing real damage. Keep an eye out for unusual device behavior and performance disruptions that could mean your computer or phone is compromised.
Slower performance
Malware usually eats up a lot of your device’s resources, which can lead to longer loading times and poorer performance. Compare your device’s speed when you close background apps — if running your device with the fewest possible apps still feels too slow, something might be stealing its resources.
Overheating
As they self-replicate and spread in your device, viruses can take up a lot of energy and cause overheating. Try restarting your device to see how long it takes for it to heat up again. If your phone is affected and you can remove the battery, do so to check for external damage. Unplug all ports and leave it on a cool, stone surface to cool down. If it doesn’t help, you might be dealing with a malicious background process.
Low storage
Trojans and rogue software can spread through your device if you install all the updates the “developers” claim to be necessary security patches. They can create hidden files on your device that eat up space. Check your device’s storage and see if any unusual categories, like “Miscellaneous” or “Other files,” take up significant space.
Unfamiliar apps
Viruses can hide under icons of legitimate-looking apps. If you spot two “Calculator” icons or an unfamiliar “System” app, they might be imposters funneling data out of your device. Run a scan on your device, quarantine suspicious apps, and uninstall them. Keep in mind that some malware runs deep, so a simple uninstall might not be enough to get rid of all files at once.
Keyboard lag
If your device has been infected with a keylogger, you might notice issues with your keyboard input. Some clicks might not register on your device, or you might see input even when you’re not typing anything. Disconnect your device from the internet to prevent data transfer, unplug the external keyboard if you’re using one, and run an offline scan to detect the threat.
Unusual account behavior
If a virus or other malware has gone undetected on your device for a while, it may give cybercriminals enough time to gain access to your online accounts. You might notice suspicious login sessions in your activity log, unusual messages and emails, or changes to accounts that you didn’t authorize. Use “Log out of all devices” whenever applicable, change your passwords, and set up multi-factor authentication to better protect your accounts.
Password reset requests
Sometimes the virus’s impact is indirect. If a service or website you use is affected by a malware attack and its data is compromised, cybercriminals can gain access to full or partial login credentials. You might then see an influx of emails asking you to reset passwords to accounts with the same username or email address. Don’t reset the password using the link. Instead, set up two-factor authentication on the account to prevent hackers from using brute-force attacks to guess your login details. Tools like the NordPass Data Breach Scanner will let you know if your credentials are compromised.
Beyond antivirus: How NordPass keeps you safe from current cyber threats
For many years, antivirus software was seen as the main way to detect and defuse malicious threats like viruses. However, malware threats are becoming more sophisticated — instead of targeting devices as a whole, they can go after specific data sets. Some malware types are more covert and harder to detect. By the time reactive antivirus tools spot them, it can be too late.
To respond to the changing threats, the cybersecurity field is seeing the emergence of more proactive methods, like next-generation antivirus tools. In the next-generation antivirus whitepaper, NordVPN defines the five protection areas it must meet:
Scam protection. Detection of fraudulent websites, scam message alerts, identification of suspicious calls, and protection for banking sessions.
Phishing protection. Real-time evaluation of website and email links as well as web content to detect credential harvesting.
Identity and account takeover protection. Monitoring for identity theft attempts, detection of fraud patterns, dark web scans for exposed personal information, and alerts for compromised credentials and unauthorized access attempts.
Tracker and ad blocking. Removal of cross-site trackers, fingerprinting scripts, and intrusive ads that slow down performance and create new entry points for targeted social engineering.
File and device protection. Scans for downloads and quarantine or removal of malicious files.
Although NordPass is not a next-gen antivirus, it’s part of the Nord Security product umbrella and is developed to bring users reliable data security. Some of the features offered by NordPass cover protection against scams, phishing, and identity theft.
NordPass product integration and feature checklist
You might know NordPass best as an end-to-end encrypted password manager powered by the team behind NordVPN. However, its features stretch beyond basic password management and focus on data security, dark web monitoring, and credential vulnerability detection.
Data Breach Scanner
Malware attacks often go after valuable information, like login details and credit card information. You can set up the Data Breach Scanner to monitor your email addresses and credit card numbers and receive alerts as soon as the compromised credentials appear on the dark web.
Password Generator and Password Health
Cybercriminals can use compromised accounts to remotely access devices and convert them into bots for botnet attacks. To prevent your accounts from getting breached, you can use the Password Generator and create strong and unique credentials for each one. If you worry about your old accounts being vulnerable, Password Health will flag all weak, reused, and exposed credentials in your vault.
Secure vault and item sharing
If your device is hit by a keylogger, you shouldn’t share login credentials by simply typing them out or using an unencrypted service, like an email account or a social media chat. NordPass’ item vault is protected by XChaCha20 encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture. It supports secure sharing, so you can hand over your login details or sensitive information to others without this data being intercepted.
Passkey support
Passkeys are a passwordless authentication standard that can protect your accounts more reliably than regular passwords. They use a combination of public-private keys and biometrics to verify your login attempts. Without a static password to log and with one key being useless without the other, passkeys are more resilient against traditional phishing and credential-stealing malware. With NordPass, you can store and manage passkeys in your vault on any device.