Malware: Worm, Trojan Horse, Bot and the Difference Between Them | Antivirus Software

Before we delve into the categories and types, we need a clear understanding of malware. Known malware on behalf of another, a malicious code malicious code or Malcod ( Malcode ). The word "malware" ( Malicious ) or Acronym money ( Mal ) -almost from the Latin "word Mallus " which means Se- attack, destroy, alter or damage the host machine you are working on or network that is connected to this device. 

In short, malware is dangerous code, and malware is dangerous software. Although some malware can enter the device through vulnerabilities in the operating system or browser, most of them require the user to download them or otherwise activate them by clicking on a link or opening a file.

Once the malware becomes active inside the system, it will execute the instructions in its code. There is no doubt that malware can do a lot of damage, such as changing how other applications work and encrypting or destroying data, but it does have limits. Similar to legitimate software, the malware cannot make any changes to the hardware components of the device, this means that even in the worst-case scenario the user can lose all their data, but the device can be restored by uninstalling the operating system and other applications and reinstalling them again. 

However, it is best to avoid malware completely. One way to protect computer users themselves is to be aware of the types of threats that exist. 

Computer viruses: cold infection from files 

Viruses are probably the most common type of malware. Similar to viruses in the natural world, computer viruses have two main purposes: to replicate themselves and spread. The actual damage of the virus depends on who designed it, and the virus can be benign as it spreads without causing anything to the device that infected it. 

Unfortunately, most viruses enter and make changes to other programs, scripts, and other sets of instructions running on the machine. This way, viruses can destroy data, stop programs and even prevent your computer from booting.  

Worms: dig their way into your network

Worms are very similar to viruses in that they often copy themselves and spread, but they use a different access mechanism. Instead of spreading through infected files, worms use network vulnerabilities to travel from one host machine to another. This means that the worms do not require the user to open or activate anything in any case, they infiltrate the user’s network through a vulnerability in their security system. 

Once inside the network, the worm begins to look for another place to spread. As it moves between hosts in the network, the worm can cause the same types of damage as a virus. Most worms also carry a payload, which is essentially a computer virus that the worm delivers to every new device it connects. For example, the Blaster Worm carried it- which appeared in 2003 - the virus that caused Windows computers to restart several times. However, seemingly harmless, free worms can cause network overloads, or trigger " denial-of-service attacks". 

Trojans: More interested in controlling your device than hijacking Helen from Trojans 

Like the legendary wooden horse that was used to trick people in Troy into getting the Greeks into it, malicious Trojans allow other people to enter your devices. Like a virus or worm, a Trojan horse can run code that will destroy or alter your device and its data. However, most Trojans are designed to open a back door in a system that hackers can use to gain control of the device.

 

And unlike viruses and worms, Trojans do not copy themselves or try to spread to multiple computers, they are generally found in an incognito file that depends on the user to activate it.   

Bots: when robots rule the world 

They are automated programs that perform a specific process. Many legitimate bots help the internet run smoothly, such as Googlebot. However, the bot can also be used to perform many suspicious operations, such as infecting unprotected computers and adding them to a botnet.

 

The person responsible for operating the botnet can carry out many different types of attacks by controlling several computers remotely. For example, a bot can steal data from an infected computer, including user contacts, passwords, and other private information. Computers infected by bots may also become points of spreading spam, malware, and other nasty surprises to other users.  Finally, the bot can use the infected network to launch DDoS attacks and other attacks on a large scale. A bot is perhaps the most powerful type of malware, as it can spread in various ways and attack in many ways. \

Spyware does not attack your computer, but it is still within the definition of malware. The spyware collects information from your computer and sends it back to the creator of the program, so it will likely be able to log into your bank account or sell your personal information. Often times the spyware disguises itself as a free program to perform another function, or it may come with a legitimate software package.  

How to deal with it: Common sense does a lot Now that you know about all of these threats, how can you protect yourself?

 A little education and common sense are the two most important aspects. It's very simple: don't open email attachments from people you don't know, and don't click on links from strangers. The limitations of viruses are that they work by spreading them by infected files. 

In the vast majority of cases, the user must open a file to activate the virus. The other thing that can be done is to continually update the antivirus software on your computer. The term "anti-virus" is a little out of date. Most of the packages will protect you not only from viruses but also from other threats such as worms and Trojans, as well as from spyware. 

There are many options for protection software, whether free or not, that will give you strong protection from most threats. Finally, keeping your operating system and antivirus system up to date is often enough to keep malware away from you. Companies like Microsoft are working hard to protect their operating systems from any new threats. You may not notice anything different while using the computer after updating Windows, but you should know that major updates have been made to fill the security holes that were discovered. 

Conclusion 

Malware won't go away. In fact, as more people use internet-connected devices, the number and types of malware are also likely to increase. Knowing which malware is the first step in protecting yourself from attacks. Most malware can be avoided by applying some common sense when downloading and opening files from various sources. However, for complete security, you need reliable antivirus software and a suitable firewall, it cannot be defeated