If you have ever wondered how does a computer virus work, you first need to know what a virus is. There are many different types of computer viruses. They can damage software or data, and they can also encrypt data. Hackers use computer viruses to access more sophisticated systems, disrupt networks, and make money. Though computer viruses may seem random, they aren’t. They must be installed to spread, and there are three primary ways to install computer viruses:
Self-replicating viruses
“Viruses” are a class of malware that replicate themselves. However, unlike other types of viruses, worms do not need to be activated by another program to spread. Some of these worms, such as those created by the researchers at Solve iQ, download malicious code from the Internet and turn infected PCs into zombies that automatically send spam to other computers. These worms do not need human interaction and can often spread rapidly.
These viruses are often very cleverly designed, making their existence challenging to detect. They may not be immediately noticeable to the user, but a few symptoms of their presence indicate that they are running. For example, the computer may run slowly, or you will notice many unknown processes running in the Task Manager. You may also find that you have received suspicious emails from contacts. These symptoms could indicate that the virus is causing havoc on your computer, making it unusable.
Infecting other programs
A virus is software designed to replicate itself and spread from host to host. Viruses reproduce by attaching themselves to other programs. For example, viruses travel as attachments in emails and replicate by automatically mailing themselves to dozens of people in the victim’s address book. Some of these viruses are so small that they don’t even require a double-click to spread!
Once infected, viruses typically perform various harmful activities on the host computer. They may steal information, access private data, corrupt data, display political, humorous, or threatening messages, and even log keystrokes. Some viruses even render the computer useless. Here’s how they work. The goal of all viruses is to infect as many computers as possible. To make things worse, viruses can spread to multiple computers.
Self-replicating worms
Self-replicating worms work similarly to computer viruses; they do not require a delivery system. In addition, these worms are highly capable and can quickly multiply, sending duplicates over a network and connected devices. As a result, they are a very effective way for cybercriminals to spread malware and wreak havoc with personal and enterprise-level operations. Here’s how self-replicating worms work:
A worm uses system weaknesses to multiply and damage computers. They can be challenging to remove, and users may need to reinstall their operating system. Some worms are helpful, such as the Xerox PARC worms that allowed researchers to test Ethernet principles. The Nachi family of worms attempts to download patches from the Microsoft website and exploit vulnerabilities. In the end, they spread by destroying files and consuming system resources.
Worms can spread from one computer to another by using the host computer or sending malicious files over the Internet. They are also spread via social engineering. Their worms take advantage of file and information transport features and can travel without assistance. A recent example of a worm attack is the ‘Stuxnet worm.’ The worm has spread to Iranian nuclear facilities and has been blamed for causing many problems.
Spreading through email attachments
The most common way computer viruses spread is through email attachments. Most viruses can be applied by email, but some can be transmitted via other means. Infected emails can also spread viruses, so you should be cautious when opening them. In addition, you should avoid clicking on links and macros in emails from unknown senders. Finally, ensure your email client and antivirus software are updated, or you risk getting a virus.
Computer viruses spread by attaching themselves to files on the host computer. Once inside the computer, they perform malicious activities. For example, viruses may use hard disk space and CPU time to access private information and data and display spam or political messages. They may also log your keystrokes. And, if they spread to your computer, they can make it useless. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.