What is a Computer Virus or a Computer Worm? | anti virus worm
Animportantdistinctionbetweencomputervirusesandwormsisthatvirusesrequireanactivehostprogramoranalready-infectedandactiveoperatingsysteminorderforvirusestorun,causedamageandinfectotherexecutablefilesordocuments,whilewormsarestand-alonemaliciousprogramsthatcanself-replicateandpropagateviacomputernetworks,withouthumanhelp.Virusesaretypicallyattachedtoanexecutablefileoraworddocument.TheyoftenspreadviaP2Pfilesharing,infectedwebsites,andemailattachmentdownloads.Onceavirusfindsitswayontoyoursystem,...
An important distinction between computer viruses and worms is that viruses require an active host program or an already-infected and active operating system in order for viruses to run, cause damage and infect other executable files or documents, while worms are stand-alone malicious programs that can self-replicate and propagate via computer networks, without human help.
Viruses are typically attached to an executable file or a word document. They often spread via P2P file sharing, infected websites, and email attachment downloads. Once a virus finds its way onto your system, it will remain dormant until the infected host file or program is activated, which in turn makes the virus active enabling it to run and replicate on your system.
Worms, on the other hand, dont need a host program in order for them to run, self-replicate and propagate. Once a worm has mad...