Cybersecurity Questions Medium
Viruses, worms, and Trojans are all types of malicious software, commonly known as malware, but they differ in their characteristics and methods of propagation.
A virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to a legitimate program or file and replicates by inserting its code into other files or programs. It requires user interaction to spread, such as opening an infected email attachment or executing an infected file. Once activated, viruses can cause various harmful effects, such as corrupting or deleting files, slowing down the system, or stealing sensitive information.
On the other hand, worms are standalone malware programs that can self-replicate and spread across networks without any user interaction. They exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems or network protocols to infect other computers. Worms can cause significant damage by consuming network bandwidth, overloading servers, or installing backdoors for remote access.
Trojans, named after the Greek mythological story of the Trojan horse, are malware disguised as legitimate software or files. Unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not self-replicate. Instead, they trick users into executing them, often by masquerading as harmless files or by being bundled with legitimate software. Once inside a system, Trojans can perform various malicious activities, such as stealing sensitive information, creating backdoors for remote access, or launching other malware.
In summary, viruses require user interaction to spread, attach themselves to legitimate files, and replicate by inserting their code. Worms, on the other hand, can self-replicate and spread across networks without user interaction, exploiting vulnerabilities. Trojans are disguised as legitimate software or files and do not self-replicate, relying on user deception to execute them.