The world of cybersecurity threats continues to grow and change every day. It can be difficult to keep up and stay informed. One of the most common mistakes people make is to think that a virus, computer worm, or trojan horse are all just viruses. They are all different forms of malicious software, or malware, and it is essential to know what sets them apart. When it comes to defending your systems from intrusion, knowing is half the battle.
Why Does This Matter To Me?
There is no single perfect security solution. Every security measure that is put in place has its strengths and weaknesses. Some of them are very effective against certain types of malware and others are there to make up for the weak points in other systems. Educating yourself on the variety of threats that you and your business are facing will serve you well in the future because you will understand the precautions your service provider is taking to keep your business safe and security compliant. At Reverus, we believe in making sure that our clients understand the work we are doing and have a grasp of why we recommend certain computer security strategies over others.
What Is a Computer Virus?
The term ‘computer virus’ is perhaps the most well-known name for a cybersecurity threat. It gets tossed around as a cover-all for anything that invades your computer system. A virus infects your files or programs through human interaction. It is only able to intrude on your operating system by attaching itself to an existing file and tagging along for a ride. As the file is shared or sent via email, the virus leaves infection in its wake.
One bit of good news is that almost all viruses end up attached to executable files. This means that the virus might be on your computer, but it cannot actually infect your computer unless someone opens or runs the malicious program. Viruses can range pretty wildly in severity. Some cause annoying side effects while others will damage software and cause denial-of-service conditions.
What Is a Computer Worm?
A worm is similar to a virus and is typically considered a sub-type of viruses. These worms will spread from computer to computer like a virus, but unlike a virus, it has the ability to get around without human interaction. A worm can take advantage of the transportation systems that already exist within your operating system.
Another point of concern for computer worms is its ability to replicate and propagate itself on your computer. Rather than sending out a single worm, it can possibly send out hundreds of thousands of copies of itself. This can create a devastating effect. Thanks to its propagating nature, one of the ways that a worm can do the most damage is to consume so much system memory, or network bandwidth so that servers and individual computers will no longer respond. These worms are not just about invading personal information either, in some cases, they can allow an outside user to take control of your computer remotely.
What Is a Trojan Horse?
This malicious bit of software gets its name from the Trojan War and the subterfuge of hiding a threat within a legitimate source. At first glance, a trojan horse will appear as if it is useful or trusted software. Then, once you install or run the program, it will begin to do its damage. These are some of the most difficult forms of malware to avoid because they can be so well-hidden.
The severity of a trojan horse assault can vary widely. Some trojans will have harmless effects like altering your desktop or adding confusing icons. Other forms can have a severe impact, like deleting files, destroying information, or creating a backdoor into your operating systems. This can put your personal data at risk. A major difference from viruses and worms is that trojan horses cannot reproduce on their own.
What Can Be Done?
The variety of threats that you are facing and the multitude of ways that they can invade your systems are excellent examples of why you need an expert security services provider, like Reverus. We have multiple layers of security services to defend your network and systems. We can do much more than just install some antivirus software and wish you good luck. We have security methods including:
- Intrusion Protection
- Vulnerability Testing
- Managed Threat Security
- Threat Remediation
When Security Precautions Are Not Enough
As we said before, there is no perfect security solution. You need security services that are not arrogant enough to believe that your systems will never be invaded. With Reverus, we will make every effort possible to defend your systems and network, but we will also take precautions to be prepared if those safety measures fail.
We will help you design and implement disaster recovery plans to recover from natural disasters and data intrusions. Depending on your needs, these strategies can include features like an off-site data center, redundant data backups, or both. To get a better understanding of the threats you face and the precautions that can be taken to protect your systems, find out if Reverus Managed IT Services are right for you.
