How does a worm or virus form?

[nile455]

Non-computer person here would like a layman's explanataion of how these things form. Are they always made by a computer user, or do they just form by themselves? All the descriptions I've read online are... very absract.

 

[nile455]

Hmmm I guess no one knows..

 

[CathrynRose]

Theyre made by person(s) with the sole intent *to* make one.

Instead of thinking them as virus's/worm's - think of them as programs. It's a program, programmed to do harm to a PC.

Make sense?

 

[flatline]

they got the name virus because they're able to self-replicate and spread. a common way is through e-mail. you open an e-mail with a virus program, if you execute it, it writes is way onto your hard drive. it'll self-replicate and mail it's clones to everyone in your address book.

 

[nile455]

they got the name virus because they're able to self-replicate and spread. a common way is through e-mail. you open an e-mail with a virus program, if you execute it, it writes is way onto your hard drive. it'll self-replicate and mail it's clones to everyone in your address book.

Okay so judging from the two responses, they are all made by a PERSON, but they spread all by themselves?

 

[Quinn222]

They are made and initially spread by a person or persons. Worms and Virus's are not the same thing and replicate differently. Spyware, Malware and Adware are other 'infections that you can pick up also. Worms replicate by using your e-mail address book to send themselves as e-mails to everyone in the address book. It appears to be coming from you so your friends open it and the infection spreads. This is why you should never ever ver open attachments, even if they come from someone you know. The only exception is if the person sending it tells you ahead of time that they are sending it and you know for a fact that it orgiginated with them and is not just 'something cute' that they are forwarding to you.

Viruses may or may not come via e-mail. They can also come as direct attacks on your computers, as a result of visiting certain web sites, embedded in software that you've downloaded and the like.

You should always be running anti virus, anti adware and anti spywayre software. these should be updated daily. No less than once a week you should do a full system scan with each of these softwares to check for infestations.

 

[GoofyDad869]

They are made and initially spread by a person or persons. Worms and Virus's are not the same thing and replicate differently. Spyware, Malware and Adware are other 'infections that you can pick up also. Worms replicate by using your e-mail address book to send themselves as e-mails to everyone in the address book. It appears to be coming from you so your friends open it and the infection spreads. This is why you should never ever ver open attachments, even if they come from someone you know. The only exception is if the person sending it tells you ahead of time that they are sending it and you know for a fact that it orgiginated with them and is not just 'something cute' that they are forwarding to you.

Viruses may or may not come via e-mail. They can also come as direct attacks on your computers, as a result of visiting certain web sites, embedded in software that you've downloaded and the like.

You should always be running anti virus, anti adware and anti spywayre software. these should be updated daily. No less than once a week you should do a full system scan with each of these softwares to check for infestations.

To expand a bit on this...
Most worms are designed to exploit known programming loopholes in software programs. It is VERY important to update Operating System and email programs, especially if you are running MicroSoft stuff. (Biggest market share = biggest target for malware)

One thing you may not be aware of is that most new viruses / worms are based upon already discovered versions. These would be equivalent to 'strains' of natural viruses. This helps the antivirus programmers very much in getting counter-updates developed (they already know the way a particular virus works and what programming 'hooks' they use). Most of the time, when a new strain is unleashed they can have countermeasures issued in a matter of minutes or hours.

The really scary times are when completely new forms of viruses are unleashed. Those are the ones that can cause major financial & security damage to worldwide corporations. Your average run-of-the-mill worm / virus is feasting on home & small business computers who haven't updated their stuff adequately.