| Anyone who uses a computer has undoubtedly heard | | | | attached to a file, and the file has to be opened before |
| the terms "computer virus", "worm", and "Trojan". Most | | | | infection can take place. Unlike a virus, that is passed |
| use these terms interchangeably to describe a virus. | | | | from computer to computer via user action; worms |
| What you may not realize though, is that computer | | | | are designed to self-replicate and spread without any |
| worms and Trojan horses are not computer viruses at | | | | effort on the user's part. When you open a file that |
| all. | | | | contains a worm, it starts spreading through networks |
| While each of these three computer security threats | | | | and emails immediately. The main purpose of a worm |
| shares some common characteristics, there are some | | | | attack is to bring down systems and networks by |
| distinct differences between viruses, worms, and | | | | consuming great amounts of bandwidth and memory. |
| Trojans that cause them to stand on their own as a | | | | Worms are also used as a means for a remote |
| category of malicious software. The main similarity is | | | | attacker to tunnel into your system. Many worms will |
| that all are bad, and can potentially cause you, your | | | | replicate themselves by sending "clones" to everyone |
| computer, or your network a great deal of harm. | | | | in your email address book. These emails are sent out |
| Common Characteristics of Viruses, Worms, and | | | | immediately upon opening the infected file. |
| Trojans | | | | A Trojan Horse is also included in a file, and like a virus, |
| All computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are | | | | does not propagate itself. Trojans are tricky, in that |
| considered to be "malware", also commonly referred | | | | they are often disguised as some type of useful or |
| to as malicious software. Spyware and adware also | | | | interesting software. When the software is installed |
| fall into the category of malware, as is any other type | | | | (Trojans are normally embedded in .exe files), the |
| of software that is designed to perform malicious and | | | | Trojan is activated, and sometimes you don't even |
| or unwanted activity. | | | | realize its there. |
| Viruses, worms, and Trojans have been around for | | | | Trojans can do many things, and while some are |
| awhile, and are often packaged together (i.e. a virus | | | | designed to be dangerous, others are just annoying. A |
| that launches a worm when executed, a worm that | | | | Trojan might destroy files, change your desktop icons, |
| plants a Trojan, etc...). Because of their longstanding | | | | or plant a "backdoor" on your system that can be |
| use as a means of performing disruptive and | | | | used by a hacker or cyber criminal at a later date. |
| destructive tasks, anti virus software developers | | | | Trojans are usually passed from PC to PC by email or |
| include protection against Trojans and worms in their | | | | disk file transfer, because the sender doesn't know |
| antivirus applications. | | | | that the file carries a harmful Trojan. |
| Anti virus software (if updated regularly) will help | | | | Protection from Viruses, Worms, and Trojans |
| protect you from all three dangers. | | | | The good news is that Antivirus software will provide |
| Differences Between Computer Viruses, Worms, and | | | | a great deal of protection against known computer |
| Trojan Horses | | | | viruses as well as worms and Trojan horses. The bad |
| A Computer Virus is attached to a program or file, and | | | | news is that antivirus software won't necessarily |
| is designed to spread from one computer to another. It | | | | provide total protection. You still need a good firewall |
| infects the computer it is installed on, and is usually | | | | to keep cyber criminals out, and you need anti |
| spreads when the infected file (usually an .exe file) is | | | | spyware to protect against the other types of |
| shared with others via email, disk, USB drive, or CD. A | | | | malware that antivirus software isn't so good at |
| virus has to have human action in order to launch and | | | | catching. For the absolute best protection, use a |
| deliver its "payload". | | | | Computer Security Suite. |
| The file that the virus is attached to cannot open itself; | | | | Be sure to get the most recent updates for your |
| a user has to open it in order to execute the virus. | | | | operating system and all applications installed on your |
| Viruses have many symptoms, depending on the | | | | PC. This is especially important for Windows users, as |
| intent. Computer viruses can erase or corrupt files and | | | | the majority of malware is designed to work on the |
| applications, crash your system by making so many | | | | world's most popular operating system. Updates will |
| copies of files that the hard drive fills up, or make a | | | | patch newly discovered "security holes" and will help |
| computer inoperable by altering critical system files. | | | | prevent many viruses, worms and Trojans from |
| A Computer Worm is like a virus in that it is also | | | | completing their "mission". |