Computer Viruses

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other programs (such as your word processing or spreadsheet programs). Then when a file with a virus attached to it is executed the virus will also be executed. Viruses can also attach themselves to system files the computer uses every time it is switched on, these are called boot sector viruses, and can cause persistent and widespread disruption to the computer. Viruses can also infest documents such as those created with a word processor. Infested documents are stored with a list of instructions called a macro, which is essentially a mini program. Then when the document is viewed the macro is activated. These viruses are called macro viruses and actually account for 67.5% of all virus damage.

Worms are very similar to viruses but are technically different in the way that they replicate and spread through the system. The difference is that programs or files don’t need to be run in order to activate the spreading of a worm. Because of this worms can be very dangerous when ...

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