Know thy Enemy: Viruses, worms and Trojans
June 18 2007
Viruses, worms, and Trojans are malicious programs that damage both your computer and the information on it. They bog down the Internet and hijack your mail systems to spread themselves to your friends, family, co-workers, and the web at large. The good news is that, with an ounce of prevention and some common sense, you need not fall victim to these threats. Think of it as locking your front door to protect your family.
What is a virus?
A virus is a piece of computer code that attaches itself to a program or file so it can spread from computer to computer, infecting as it travels. Viruses can damage your software, your hardware, and your files. A true virus, however, does not spread without human action to move it along, such as sharing a file or sending an e-mail.
What is a worm?
A worm (like a virus) is designed to copy itself from one computer to another, but it does so automatically by seizing control of features that transport files or information. Once a worm is in your system, it can make its own travel plans. Worse yet, worms can replicate in great volume. When new worms are unleashed, they spread like wildfire, clogging networks and slowing systems to a crawl!
What is a Trojan Horse?
The Trojan Horse appeared as a gift but in fact housed enemy soldiers who emerged and overtook the city. Like them, computerized Trojan Horses portray themselves as useful software, but, once admitted, compromise your security and cause a lot of damage. They sometimes tag along in software that you download for free. Never download or install software from a source that you don't trust 100%!
Questions? Need help?
Protect your systems before it’s too late. Call us for the answers to your questions and assistance with securing your computing environment.
Almost 16 viruses per day!
A major antivirus software vendor estimates that a total of 3,855 new viruses were introduced in the first half of 2003.