Skip to main content
Information Security

Return to Question

Post Closed as "Duplicate" by schroeder♦
Cleaner formatting
Source Link
Mark
Mark
  • 34.8k
  • 9
  • 88
  • 139

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between "worms", "viruses", and "malware"?

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources I've found said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

What is the difference between "worms", "viruses", and "malware"?

Some sources I've found said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

edited body
Source Link
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
Gilles 'SO- stop being evil'
  • 52.4k
  • 14
  • 126
  • 184

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
hxxp://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Wormhttp://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
hxxp://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
http://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm

Source Link
Guy McG
Guy McG
  • 111
  • 1

Terminology involving malware/virus/worm

I have tried searching for the answer but came across a lot of conflicting information. What is the difference between

  • virus
  • worm
  • malware

Some sources said both viruses and worms infect files. But others say worms are stand alone programs, and are characterized by exploiting a weakness. Which is it? Isn't the definition of both malware and virus is they run without the users knowledge and usually do something harmful?

sources:
http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Internet/virus.asp
https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.TECH98539.html
hxxp://www.diffen.com/difference/Computer_Virus_vs_Computer_Worm