In the internet world, you might hear about various online threats that affect your data and can damage your system. Worms and Trojan are two such online threats that vigorously track online activities. These two online threats work differently. A worm replicates but a trojan on the other side does not replicate and execute once downloaded in the system as software.
Worm vs Trojan
The main difference between a trojan and a worm is that a Trojan affects the system anonymously by disguising or masking it as a program that can be useful for the system and mislead the user. It has some common signs that help the user to recognize its true identity. On the other side, a worm is also considered malware that replicates without any user interaction and affects the system. A worm can spread across the whole network and affects the other relevant systems. Their major objective is to affect the files or data by deleting or modifying them.
The worm is an online threat that affects the data and the information of the user by replicating effectively. It does not require any human interaction and can spread across all over the network. It is very dangerous as it can steal and damage the system vigorously by using the protocols of the network. The worms eat the resources of the system.
Trojan, also called trojan horse, is a type of virus or malware that affects the user’s system. It is designed in such a way that it seems legitimate, but it affects or damages the information or data of the user. It is considered as one of the dangerous malware which is created specifically to harm or steal information from other’s systems.
Comparison Table Between Worm and Trojan
| Parameters of Comparison | Worm | Trojan |
| Execution | This type of malware replicates and affects the other computers without any interaction with the human. | Trojan misleads the user in the form of the software and app. Once installed it steal and damage the information. |
| Spreading Rate | It has a fast-spreading rate. | It has a slow-spreading rate. |
| Objective | The main objective of the worm is to affect the resources of the system. | The main objective of the trojan is to damage and steal important details and information of the users. |
| What is it? | The worm is a malware that entered the system with the help of spam email or messages and once installed, it spread across the network and affects other systems or computers. | Trojan affects the system anonymously by disguising or masking as a program that can be useful for the system and mislead the user. |
| Infection | The system weakness is utilized to spread the effectiveness of the worm. | The trojan is disguised as software that can be useful to the user and infect the whole system. |
| Motive | It affects the memory and data of the system. | It majorly steals the data and information of the user. |
What is Worm?
The worm is a type of malware that affects the system and replicates across the network by infecting other systems or computers as well. They entered into the system with the help of spam messages or email. Once it is opened, then the worm is installed automatically into the system and affects the user’s information and data. They can inject other malicious software and create the worst effect on the system and can damage it completely.
The worms can enter the system in various forms. It can be an email worm that can be installed by clicking on a malicious website link. The system may also get affected if the worm is disguised in the file or data that is shared from one source to another. The worm can spread in one or another way without using the interaction of humans. Apart from internet activities, worms can also be transmitted with the help of USBs.
What is Trojan?
The trojan is a type of virus or malware that is disguised as software or app so that the user can easily install it into their system without giving a second thought. Once installed, it misleads the users and damages their information. The term ‘trojan’ is inspired by the ancient Greek story. Third parties used trojan to steal the information from the system. When a software encoded with trojan malware is downloaded in the system, then it starts its execution by infecting and stealing the files and information from the users. This also includes personal and financial details.
The trojan malware is further categorized into various types, depending upon the usability and specific purpose. Banker Trojan is used to stealing financial or bank-related details. A Fake trojan is introduced to make the user realize that their system is affected, and they need to download an antivirus for the same. Info stealer Trojan is designed to steal personal information or details, comprised of passwords and usernames. These are just a few names; cybercriminals designed and create various trojans to serve their purposes.
Main Differences Between Worm and Trojan
- Worm and Trojan are two types of malware that affect the user’s system in one or another way. A worm replicates and affects the other computers without any interaction of the human. On the contrary, Trojan mislead the user in the form of the software and app. Once installed, it steals and damages the information.
- Every malware or virus has a rate of spreading that varies from each other. The spreading rate of the worm is comparatively higher than the trojan as it replicates and spreads across the network without requiring any human interaction.
- The worm and trojan are designed for a specific objective. A worm is created to affect the resources of the system. A trojan, on the other side,
- The worm and trojan are designed for a specific objective. A worm is created to affect the resources of the system. A trojan, on the other side, damage and steal important details and information of the users.
- The malware infected the user’s system and affected the data. The system weakness is utilized to spread the effectiveness of the worm. On the contrary, a trojan is disguised as software that can be useful to the user and infect the whole system.
Conclusion
Worm and Trojan are considered as malware or online threats that affect the user’s information and slow down the computer. They affect the system in one or another way. Hence it is important to detect or locate them. A worm replicates and spreads across while affecting the other system and computers. Trojan, on the other side, is disguised in useful software and apps, and once downloaded, they steal the important details and information of the user.
References
- https://www.usenix.org/system/files/login/issues/login_dec_2007.pdf#page=20
- https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/1599272.1599278