Question

What is the difference between virus and malware? Briefly explain DoS attack, Phishing attack, and MITM attack.

Hint:

Viruses are a subset of malware that self-replicate. DoS attacks disrupt services; phishing deceives users for data; MITM intercepts and alters communication.

Answer 1

Virus vs. Malware: A virus is a specific malicious software that infects legitimate programs/files and spreads by inserting its code into other software or files. Viruses typically require user interaction to activate and spread (e.g., opening an infected file). Malware (malicious software) is a broad category of software designed to harm, exploit, or compromise computer systems. This category includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, and others. Malware can spread via various methods and may not need user intervention to infect a system. DoS Attack (Denial of Service): A DoS attack aims to render a computer system or network resource inaccessible to legitimate users by overwhelming it with excessive illegitimate traffic or requests. This exhausts the target's resources (bandwidth, CPU, memory), leading to slowdowns or crashes, thereby denying service. Phishing Attack: Phishing is a social engineering tactic where attackers impersonate trusted entities, often through emails or fake websites, to deceive users into revealing confidential information like usernames, passwords, or credit card details. Phishing exploits human psychology and trust, not technical weaknesses. MITM Attack (Man-In-The-Middle): A MITM attack allows an attacker to secretly intercept, forward, and potentially modify communications between two parties who believe they are communicating directly. This enables the attacker to steal sensitive data, inject harmful content, or impersonate one of the parties involved.