A virus, worm, Trojan, bots, spyware, adware, ransomware are some of the different types of the class known as malware. Malware is nothing but malicious software that tends to damage, steal, or disrupt the data stored in a system or network. Malware can get into the system using a number of ways and they tend to multiply and spread to infect other systems. They come bundled with other software or can even come attached with a file.

A malware attack can also vary depending on the severity of the content. Some may include minor pop ads in the browser and they can run until they have breached one’s confidential data stored in the computer, destroying the data, and taking control of the entire system and the network. Among all the malware, two of the most common ones are the virus and worm. They have the innate ability to replicate and propagate by sending copies which at times are modified copies. A malware can be only classified as a virus or a worm if it has the capacity to propagate. So, here is the difference between a virus and a worm. This will help you understand better.

• Worms generally do not depend upon any external files for propagation and can replicate and propagate on its own. A virus, on the other hand, depends on a host, say another file or a software for its propagation. Worms can make functional copies of themselves and can cause similar damage like a virus does.
• Worms are standalone software and in contrast to viruses do not require infected hosts for propagation.
• A worm enters the system by exploiting an OS or, most commonly, tricking the users by masking themselves as other file or application for their execution. A worm takes advantage of the file or information transport features of a system to move undetected and unaided. There are advanced worms which can leverage the encryption, ransomware and wiper technologies to spread fast and cause vast damages. When it comes to virus, a virus has to attach itself to a host program and get into the system where it becomes a part of the system and spreads to other computers too. A virus attack can vary in different levels starting from mild harmless pop-ups to an extent where the system denies any service. A virus usually attaches itself to an executable file which means, it cannot infect or propagate unless the users execute the infected file, in this case, the host file. When the user activates the host code, the virus code also executes along with the code and the virus starts infecting the system. There are instances where the virus has even affected the host code and rewritten the host code destroying the host program altogether. A virus can spread to other systems when the user copies this infected host file or document through storage disks, file sharing or even infected email attachments.

How to deal with worms and viruses?

The best way to deal with worms and viruses is to have good and decent anti-malware and antivirus software installed into the system. An updated anti-malware and antivirus software keep the system protected from all the threats and attacks. McAfee, Norton, Nod32, AVG, Avast, Bitdefender are some of the best antivirus software that can help keep the system safe from external threats. Anti-malware like Malwarebytes, Emsisoft, and Zemana are helpful in keeping malware at bay. In order to avoid threats from virus or worm, it is always better to have frequent scans scheduled and the firewall updated. It is also advisable to open files or links only after ensuring the safety of the system.