computer Viruses and

Worms
Lab 9
• Both worms and viruses are types of malicious software, or
malware, but they have distinct characteristics and methods of
propagation. Below is a detailed explanation of each, along with
their differences.
Worms

• Worms are a type of malware that can replicate themselves and

spread independently across networks without any need for human
interaction or attaching themselves to other programs.
Characteristics of Worms:

•Self-Replication: Worms can create copies of themselves and

spread across networks autonomously.
•Propagation: They often exploit vulnerabilities in software or
operating systems to propagate.
•Autonomous: Worms do not require user action or interaction with
other software to spread.
•Payload: While some worms are designed simply to spread, others
can carry harmful payloads that can delete files, encrypt data, or steal
information.
Viruses

• Viruses are a type of malware that attach themselves to

legitimate programs or files. They require human action to spread,
such as running an infected program or opening an infected file.
Characteristics of Viruses:

•Attachment to Host: Viruses need a host program or file to spread.

•Replication: They replicate by modifying other programs or files to

include a copy of the virus.

•User Action: Viruses typically require some form of user action to

activate and spread, like opening an infected attachment or running a
compromised application.

•Payload: Viruses can carry a variety of payloads, from displaying

messages to deleting files or creating backdoors for attackers.
Key Differences Between Worms and Viruses

Mode of Propagation:
• Worms: Spread autonomously across networks, exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Viruses: Spread by attaching to files or programs and require user action to propagate.

Dependency on Host:
• Worms: Do not require a host program or file; they are standalone programs.
• Viruses: Require a host program or file to replicate and spread.

User Interaction:
• Worms: Do not require user action to spread.
• Viruses: Require user action (such as opening a file) to spread
Example: Self-Replicating Program

Directory Setup:
The code creates a directory named VirusTest on the C: drive.
If the directory does not exist, it creates it.
File Creation:
The program creates a text file with a name that includes the current timestamp
to avoid name collisions.
It writes a simple message to the file to simulate the replication process.
Replication:
The replicate method creates another file within the same directory, writing
the same message.

It limits the number of files created to 10 to avoid uncontrolled

replication.
Ethical and Legal Considerations

• Creating and distributing malware, including worms and viruses, is

illegal and unethical. This example is provided for educational
purposes to understand how these threats work and to develop
better defenses against them. Always use your programming skills
responsibly and ethically.