Computer Viruses and Antivirus

Types of malicious software and how antivirus programs detect and remove them.

📖 ~4 min read 💻 RRB NTPC / Group D — Computer Awareness

Types of Malicious Software

Type	Behaviour
Virus	Attaches itself to a program/file and spreads when that file is executed or shared
Worm	Self-replicates and spreads across networks WITHOUT needing to attach to a file
Trojan Horse	Disguises itself as legitimate software to trick users into installing it
Ransomware	Encrypts a victim's files and demands payment for the decryption key
Spyware	Secretly monitors and collects user activity/information

Antivirus Software

Antivirus programs detect, quarantine, and remove malicious software using virus definition databases and behaviour-based detection. Regular updates are essential since new viruses are created constantly.

⚠️ A worm does NOT need a host file to spread (unlike a virus) — it can replicate independently across a network, which often makes it spread faster.

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