Final answer:
A computer virus and a computer worm are both types of malicious software that can damage or disrupt computer systems. However, there are some differences between the two.
Step-by-step explanation:
A computer virus and a computer worm are both types of malicious software that can damage or disrupt computer systems. However, there are some differences between the two.
Similarities:
- Both viruses and worms are designed to replicate and spread.
- Both can infect and harm computer systems, leading to data loss, system crashes, or unauthorized access.
- Both can be spread through email attachments, malicious websites, or infected external devices.
Differences:
- Virus: A virus is a piece of code that attaches itself to a file or program and requires user interaction to spread. It needs a host file or program to be executed and replicate. Viruses can infect both executable files and non-executable files, such as documents or spreadsheets.
- Worm: A worm is a standalone program that can replicate and spread without requiring a host file or program. It can exploit vulnerabilities in computer networks or operating systems to self-propagate. Worms can spread rapidly across networks, infecting multiple devices.
For example, a virus may be attached to an email as a malicious attachment and spread when the user opens the attachment. On the other hand, a worm may exploit a vulnerability in a network protocol and spread automatically to other connected devices.