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Protecting Your Computer From a Computer Malware
Malware, or malicious software, is a software made to cause harm to your system. A malware gets
installed on a computer without approval from the computer's owner.
Types of Malwares
There are different types of malware, each having unique characteristics. Let’s find out.
Worm
Virus
MALWARE Trojan
Horse
Adware
Spyware
Virus: A computer virus is a program that is able to copy itself when it is run. It gets activated
each time the program or file to which it is attached is opened or executed. It is the most common
type of malware. It can spread itself by infecting other programs or files. It affects the original
program, causing it to not work properly.
Worm: A worm is similar to virus but it can copy itself and spread rapidly to any device attached.
A worm does not need any program to activate it.
Trojan Horse: A trojan horse is a dangerous virus. It represents itself as helpful software
program. Once the user clicks on it to agree to run it, it gains access to sensitive data and then
modifies, blocks, or deletes the data. It cannot copy itself from one computer to another.
Spyware: A spyware steals important information and data on the device, such as account
passwords or bank details. It observes the user's activity without their knowledge.
Adware: An adware tracks user's browser and download history and keeps popping advertisements
on the screen.
In 1986, the first virus was written for Windows based PCs by two brothers,
Basit and Amjad Farooq Alvi, from Pakistan, who were only 17 and 24 years old,
respectively, at the time. They named it “Brain”.
The Most Dangerous Malwares Known
Wabbit Virus (1974) makes multiple copies of itself until the system slows down and crashes.
ILOVEYOU Virus (2000) worked by sending a fake “love letter” that looked like a harmless text file.
14 Computer Genius (V2.1)-VI

