Question 4 of 18intermediate💡 UnderstandShort Answer2 marks

How is a computer worm different from a virus?

Correct Answer

A virus and a worm are both types of malware, but they differ in two major ways.

First, a virus requires a host program or software to insert its code into. In contrast, a worm is a standalone program that does not need a host and is capable of working on its own.

Second, a virus needs human triggering for replication – it gets activated when a user opens or executes the infected file. A worm, however, replicates on its own and can spread to other computers through the network without any human intervention.

Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 3 | (Page 18)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The textbook clearly highlights two major differences: (1) dependency on host program – virus needs one, worm doesn't; (2) replication mechanism – virus needs human action to spread, worm replicates automatically through networks. These two points are sufficient for a 2-mark answer.

Solution Steps

  1. Step 1: Identify that both virus and worm are malware

  2. Step 2: State the first difference - host program dependency

  3. Step 3: State the second difference - replication mechanism and human intervention

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