![]() Macs, on the other hand, have enjoyed a reputation as virus-proof super machines, but in Apple’s own admission, Macs do get malware. Many computer viruses target systems running Microsoft Windows. They are still a harmful type of malware, but they are not the only type of threat out there today, on your computer or mobile device. Worms, on the other hand, are able to spread across systems and networks on their own, making them much more prevalent and dangerous.įamously, the 2017 WannaCry ransomware worm spread around the world, took down thousands of Windows systems, and raked in an appreciable amount of untraceable Bitcoin ransom payments for the alleged North Korean attackers.Ĭomputer viruses don’t typically capture headlines like that-at least not anymore. Viruses can’t spread without some sort of action from a user, like opening up an infected Word document. ![]() It’s that second virus trait that tends to confuse people. A computer virus attaches bits of its own malicious code to other files or replaces files outright with copies of itself. ![]() A computer virus requires user action to transmit from one system to another.A computer virus requires a host program.Viruses and malware continue to evolve, and often cybercriminals use the type that gives them the best return at that particular time.Ī computer virus works in much the same way: When people talk about “getting a virus” on their computer, they usually mean some form of malware-it could be a virus, computer worm, Trojan, ransomware or some other harmful thing. Viruses are harmful and can destroy data, slow down system resources, and log keystrokes.Ĭybercriminals aren’t creating new viruses all the time, instead they focus their efforts on more sophisticated and lucrative threats. For instance, you could receive an email with a malicious attachment, open the file unknowingly, and then the computer virus runs on your computer. A computer virus is a type of malware that attaches to another program (like a document), which can replicate and spread after a person first runs it on their system.
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