Understanding the Key Differences Between Worms and Computer Viruses

Learn how worms and computer viruses differ in their behavior and mechanisms of spreading.

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A worm is a type of malware that can self-replicate and spread to other computers without human intervention. A computer virus requires a host file to attach to and usually spreads through human action, such as opening an infected email attachment. Key difference: worms spread autonomously, while viruses need a host and user action.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is a computer worm? A computer worm is a type of malware that can self-replicate and spread to other devices without requiring human action.
  2. How does a computer virus work? A computer virus attaches itself to a host file and spreads when the host file is accessed, often requiring user action to execute.
  3. Can worms cause harm to my computer? Yes, worms can use network resources and cause damage or slow down computer performance by replicating excessively.
  4. What are the signs of a computer virus? Signs of a virus include slow computer performance, unexpected crashes, and unusual error messages.