Computer Viruses and Security Threats

📘 Computer Fundamentals 👁 41 views 📅 Nov 05, 2025

Computer Viruses and Security Threats

Computer viruses and security threats are malicious programs or activities that can damage, steal, or disrupt data and systems.

Definition: A computer virus is a malicious program that attaches itself to files or programs and spreads when executed.
Types of Viruses:

Type	Description
File Infector Virus	Infects executable files and spreads when files are run.
Macro Virus	Targets macros in documents (e.g., Word, Excel).
Boot Sector Virus	Infects the boot sector of storage devices, preventing system startup.
Polymorphic Virus	Changes its code to avoid detection by antivirus software.
Trojan Horse	Disguised as legitimate software but performs harmful activities.

Threat	Description
Worms	Self-replicating programs that spread across networks without user intervention.
Spyware	Collects user information secretly and sends it to attackers.
Adware	Displays unwanted advertisements, sometimes tracking user behavior.
Ransomware	Encrypts data and demands ransom for access.
Phishing Attacks	Fraudulent attempts to steal sensitive information like passwords and banking details.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks	Overloads system/network to make it unavailable to users.

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