Unfortunately, computers, smartphones, tablets, etc. are attacked by all sorts of malicious programs very often. In order to be able to protect your gadget, of course, it is worth knowing, among other things, about, for example, how a computer virus differs from a computer worm or Trojan.
Any program designed to perform some unauthorized action on a user's device is called malware. There are many types of this kind of programs. Examples include keyloggers, password stealing programs, etc.
But most often, gadgets of ordinary users are still infected by worms or Trojans. It is these types of malicious programs that harm ordinary users of computer equipment and smartphones most often.
So what is the difference between a computer virus and a computer worm?
There are, of course, differences between these two types of malware. Both viruses and worms can seriously harm your computer. However, in essence, the latter is a subclass of the former, with its own characteristics. Unlike a simple virus, a worm is able to multiply rapidly without any action on the part of the user. It does not infect other files.
That is, to put it simply, a virus is just a piece of program code that is embedded in files. The worm, on the other hand, is a separate independent program. It does not directly harm the computer. Its main task is not to destroy or damage data, like a virus, but to litter the device's memory. Computer worms can multiply at a truly tremendous speed. They are transmitted from one device to another mainly via the Internet.
What is a Trojan
Thus, we have found out how a simple virus differs from a worm. The Trojan, in turn, is also a special type of virus program. He can do colossal harm to a computer. However, in comparison with simple viruses and worms, such a program has a number of features.
Unlike a computer worm virus, the main task of a Trojan is usually not to waste memory or even trivial damage to files. Such programs are most often written to steal data from the device. Trojans can also:
- use computer resources for any unseemly purposes;
- disrupt the operation of the device itself.
Sometimes Trojans are also created in order to take control of a computer, including those with administrative rights.
