Sandra Nayah
Feb 5
Types of computer viruses?
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Feb 5
There are several types of computer viruses, including:
1. File infectors: These viruses infect executable files, such as .exe or .com files, and spread when the infected file is executed.
2. Boot sector viruses: These viruses infect the boot sector of a computer's hard drive or floppy disk, and are activated when the computer is booted up.
3. Macro viruses: These viruses infect documents or templates that contain macros, such as Microsoft Word or Excel files, and are activated when the infected document is opened.
4. Polymorphic viruses: These viruses have the ability to change their code or signature, making it difficult for antivirus software to detect them.
5. Worms: Worms are self-replicating programs that spread across networks or the internet, often exploiting security vulnerabilities to infect other computers.
6. Trojan horses: Trojan horses are malicious programs disguised as legitimate software. They often trick users into installing them, and once installed, they can perform various malicious activities, such as stealing personal information or providing unauthorized access to the infected computer.
7. Ransomware: Ransomware encrypts a user's files and demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. It can spread through email attachments, malicious websites, or exploit kits.
8. Spyware: Spyware is designed to secretly gather information about a user's activities, such as browsing habits or login credentials, and send it to a third party without the user's consent.
9. Adware: Adware displays unwanted advertisements on a user's computer, often in the form of pop-up windows or banners. It is usually bundled with free software and can collect user data for targeted advertising purposes.
10. Rootkits: Rootkits are malicious programs that gain unauthorized access to a computer's operating system, allowing attackers to control the infected system and hide their presence from antivirus software.
These are just a few examples of the many types of computer viruses that exist. It's important to have up-to-date antivirus software and practice safe browsing habits to protect against these threats.
1. File infectors: These viruses infect executable files, such as .exe or .com files, and spread when the infected file is executed.
2. Boot sector viruses: These viruses infect the boot sector of a computer's hard drive or floppy disk, and are activated when the computer is booted up.
3. Macro viruses: These viruses infect documents or templates that contain macros, such as Microsoft Word or Excel files, and are activated when the infected document is opened.
4. Polymorphic viruses: These viruses have the ability to change their code or signature, making it difficult for antivirus software to detect them.
5. Worms: Worms are self-replicating programs that spread across networks or the internet, often exploiting security vulnerabilities to infect other computers.
6. Trojan horses: Trojan horses are malicious programs disguised as legitimate software. They often trick users into installing them, and once installed, they can perform various malicious activities, such as stealing personal information or providing unauthorized access to the infected computer.
7. Ransomware: Ransomware encrypts a user's files and demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. It can spread through email attachments, malicious websites, or exploit kits.
8. Spyware: Spyware is designed to secretly gather information about a user's activities, such as browsing habits or login credentials, and send it to a third party without the user's consent.
9. Adware: Adware displays unwanted advertisements on a user's computer, often in the form of pop-up windows or banners. It is usually bundled with free software and can collect user data for targeted advertising purposes.
10. Rootkits: Rootkits are malicious programs that gain unauthorized access to a computer's operating system, allowing attackers to control the infected system and hide their presence from antivirus software.
These are just a few examples of the many types of computer viruses that exist. It's important to have up-to-date antivirus software and practice safe browsing habits to protect against these threats.
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