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This lesson provides an in-depth look at the different types of malware you need to know for OCR J277 Section 1.4. Each type has distinct characteristics, methods of spreading, and impacts.
Malware is a general term for any software that is intentionally designed to cause damage to a computer, server, client or computer network. The word comes from "malicious software."
Malware can:
A computer virus is a piece of malicious code that attaches itself to a legitimate program or file. It requires human action to spread — the infected file must be opened, run, or shared.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Needs host file | Yes |
| Needs user action | Yes — user must open/run the file |
| Self-replicating | Only when host is executed |
| Spread method | Email, USB, downloads |
A worm is a standalone malicious program that replicates itself to spread to other computers. Unlike viruses, worms do not need a host file and do not require user action to spread.
Worms can spread extremely quickly across networks, consuming bandwidth and processing power. They can also carry a payload that performs additional malicious actions.
OCR Exam Tip: The key difference between a virus and a worm is that a worm is self-replicating and does NOT need a host file or user action. This is a very common comparison question in the exam.
A trojan (short for Trojan horse) is malware that disguises itself as legitimate or useful software to trick users into installing it.
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