What is the Difference Between Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses? (2024)

What is the difference between viruses, worms, and trojan horses?

The most common misconception about computer viruses is that they’re the same thing as a computer worm or trojan horse. While the words trojan, worm and virus are often used interchangeably, they are not the same. Viruses, worms and trojan horses are all malicious programs that can cause damage to your computer, but there are differences among the three, and knowing those differences can help you to better protect your computer from their damaging effects.

What is a computer virus?

A computer virus is a type of computer program that attaches itself to other programs or files when executed and writes its own code so it can spread from one program to another, leaving infections as it travels. Much like human viruses, computer viruses can range in severity: some viruses cause only mildly annoying effects while others can damage your hardware, software or files. Almost all computer viruses are attached to an executable file, which means the virus may exist on your computer, but it cannot infect your computer unless you click on, run or open the malicious program. It is important to note that a virus cannot be spread without social engineering and a human action, such as clicking on a bad link or running an infected program to keep it going. People continue the spread of a computer virus, mostly unknowingly, by sharing infected files or sending emails with viruses as attachments in the email.

What is a computer worm?

A worm is like a computer virus by its design but is a sub-class of a virus or trojan horse. Worms spread from computer to computer, but unlike a virus, it has the capability to travel without attaching to a host program and can run independently. A worm takes advantage of file or information transport features on your system, which allows it to travel unaided. Worms typically spread through the internet or through your LAN (Local Area Network) connection. The biggest danger with a worm is its capability to replicate itself on your system, so rather than your computer sending out a single worm, it could send out hundreds or thousands of copies of itself, creating a huge devastating effect. One example would be for a worm to send a copy of itself to everyone listed in your email address book. Then, the worm replicates and sends itself out to everyone listed in each of the receiver's address book, and the manifest continues down the line. Due to the copying nature of a worm and its capability to travel across networks the result in most cases is that the worm consumes too much system memory (or network bandwidth), causing web servers, network servers and individual computers to stop responding. In the much-talked-about blaster worm event, the worm was designed to tunnel into your system and allow malicious users to control your computer remotely.

What is a trojan horse?

A trojan horse is any type of malware that misleads users of its intent, like a destructive program that appears as a genuine application or software program. Trojan horses are named after the Ancient Greek story of the deceptive trojan horse that took down the city of Troy. Unlike viruses, trojan horses do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive. Trojans also open a backdoor entry to your computer, giving command to malicious actor or allowing malicious users/programs access to your system. This leads to confidential and personal information being stolen.

What is the Difference Between Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Difference Between Viruses, Worms and Trojan Horses? ›

A Trojan horse, or Trojan for short, is a kind of virus that is disguised as a desirable piece of software. In this respect, Trojans do not self-replicate like viruses and worms but are different programs that are subversively installed in computers.

What is the difference between worms viruses and Trojan horses? ›

The virus is primarily utilized to modify or erase system data, whereas worms are utilized to excessive using system resources and slow it down. On the other hand, a trojan horse may be utilized to steal user data to obtain access to the user's computer system.

What is the difference between a Trojan virus and a Trojan horse? ›

A Trojan is sometimes called a Trojan virus or Trojan horse virus, but those terms are technically incorrect. Unlike a virus or worm, Trojan malware cannot replicate itself or self-execute. It requires specific and deliberate action from the user.

What is the difference between a Trojan horse and a virus quizlet? ›

A Trojan horse is not a virus. It is a destructive program that looks as a genuine application. Unlike viruses, Trojan horses do not replicate themselves but they can be just as destructive.

What is the difference between Trojan horse and I Love You virus? ›

A computer worm is a type of trojan horse malware that, unlike traditional viruses, does not require the user's intervention to spread from device to device. After breaching a system, it can spread from one computer to another without human intervention. The ILOVEYOU virus is an overwrite virus.

How was a worm different from a Trojan? ›

A worm spreads through a network, whereas a Trojan hides inside another program. A worm prevents a device from functioning until a ransom is paid, whereas a Trojan gathers information and transmits it to another device.

What are virus worm and trojan horse threats? ›

A computer worm is a form of virus, specifically the type that self-replicates. These computer worms basically perform malicious actions in the same way that a virus or Trojan Horse would. Worms will scan their local network or search the internet from their host device, looking for vulnerabilities to exploit.

What is Trojan horse virus in simple words? ›

In computing, a Trojan horse is a program downloaded and installed on a computer that appears harmless, but is, in fact, malicious. Unexpected changes to computer settings and unusual activity, even when the computer should be idle, are strong indications that a Trojan is residing on a computer.

Is Trojan horse a bad virus? ›

Trojan viruses can not only steal your most personal information, they also put you at risk for identity theft and other serious cybercrimes. In this post, we'll examine what Trojan viruses are, and where they come from.

Is Trojan horse harmless? ›

In the realm of internet security, knowledge is power. One of the most insidious forms of cyber threats is the Trojan horse. Often disguised as legitimate software, a Trojan horse is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to provide unauthorized, remote access to a user's computer.

What are viruses worms and Trojans common know as? ›

Malware is a malicious software which is typically used to infect computers or networks. Common types of malware include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, adware, spyware, rootkits, keyloggers, fileless malware, cryptojacking, and hybrid malware.

Are 2 viruses worms and Trojan horses types of malicious code? ›

Malicious code is an application security threat that cannot be efficiently controlled by conventional antivirus software alone. Malicious code describes a broad category of system security terms that includes attack scripts, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, backdoors and malicious active content.

Is a Trojan horse a type of virus True or false? ›

A Trojan Horse Virus is a type of malware that downloads onto a computer disguised as a legitimate program. The delivery method typically sees an attacker use social engineering to hide malicious code within legitimate software to try and gain users' system access with their software.

What is the difference between a virus and a Trojan horse? ›

Unlike viruses, trojan horses do not replicate themselves, but they can be just as destructive. Trojans also open a backdoor entry to your computer, giving command to malicious actor or allowing malicious users/programs access to your system. This leads to confidential and personal information being stolen.

What is the difference between a worm and a Trojan horse? ›

Worms are self replicating. Trojan horse are not self replicating. It doesn't need a host to replicate from one computer to another. It require host is needed for spreading.

What is the difference between viruses and worms? ›

A worm can replicate and spread itself from one computer to another. On the other hand, a virus cannot self-replicate, and it needs to be sent by a user or software to travel between two different computers.

Are viruses worms and Trojan horses all examples of malware? ›

Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any intrusive software developed by cybercriminals (often called hackers) to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems. Examples of common malware include viruses, worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, adware, and ransomware.

Are 3 viruses worms and Trojan horses types of malicious code? ›

Malware, or malicious software, is any program or file that's intentionally harmful to a computer, network or server. Types of malware include computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware and spyware.

How do you know if you have a trojan horse virus? ›

To find it, the user must initiate a full computer scan with an anti-virus scanner. This should be able to identify all threats and inform the user of the name of the malware. In addition, the scanner usually recommends the necessary measures to completely remove the Trojan and the installed malware from the system.

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