Defining viruses, worms, and Trojan horses
Macro viruses:
- A macro is a piece of code that can be embedded in a data file.
- A macro virus is thus a virus that exists as a macro attached to a data file.
- In most respects, macro viruses are like all other viruses.
- The main difference is that they are attached to data files (i.e., documents) rather than executable programs.
- Document-based viruses are, and will likely continue to be, more prevalent than any other type of virus.
Worms:
- Worms are very similar to viruses in that they are computer programs that replicate functional copies of themselves (usually to other computer systems via network connections) and often, but not always, contain some functionality that will interfere with the normal use of a computer or a program.
- Unlike viruses, however, worms exist as separate entities; they do not attach themselves to other files or programs. Because of their similarity to viruses, worms also are often referred to as viruses.
- A Trojan horse is a program that does something undocumented which the programmer intended, but that users would not accept if they knew about it.
- By some definitions, a virus is a particular case of a Trojan horse, namely, one which is able to spread to other programs (i.e., it turns them into Trojans too).
- According to others, a virus that does not do any deliberate damage (other than merely replicating) is not a Trojan.
- Finally, despite the definitions, many people use the term "Trojan" to refer only to a non-replicating malicious program.
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