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Malware Vs. Viruses

Malware, which is short for malicious software, is the general term for computer threats. A virus, on the other hand, is a self-replicating program that infects other files. Although both terms are often used interchangeably, a virus is technically part of the malware family that includes trojans, worms and spyware.

  1. Evolution of Computer Threats

    • A reason why the two are used interchangeably is because virus is the first recognized malicious software. As computers advanced and Internet became commonplace, computer threats evolved. A worm is essentially a virus that has the capability to spread across networks; Trojans are carriers of malware that come from the Internet, while spyware tracks and gathers sensitive information without user consent. As threats became more varied, malware was coined to indicate all malicious software.

    Computer Threats

    • Clearly, malware poses a bigger danger than viruses because it covers all computer threats. A virus cannot spread through networks unlike a worm. It cannot act as a back door, like the trojan, for other malware to enter.

    Prevention

    • Having an antivirus program installed and updated, protects a computer from malware. Also, the operating system and applications must be fully patched to prevent malware from exploiting computer vulnerabilities. Internet settings must also be secured and set to "high" to prevent any unwanted files from being unknowingly downloaded.

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