Is a worm a virus?
Is a worm a virus? A worm is different from a virus, however, because a worm can operate on its own while a virus needs a host computer.
Why was the Melissa virus created?
The Melissa virus, reportedly named by Smith for a stripper in Florida, started by taking over victims’ Microsoft Word program. It then used a macro to hijack their Microsoft Outlook email system and send messages to the first 50 addresses in their mailing lists.
Is Melissa a worm or a virus?
Melissa is a “macro virus” that can affect users of Microsoft’s Word 97 or Word 2000. Macro viruses are computer viruses that use an application’s own macro programming language to reproduce themselves. Macro viruses can inflict damage to the document or to other computer software.
Does the Melissa virus still exist?
The impacts of the Melissa virus
According to the FBI website, the virus overloaded email servers at more than 300 corporations and government agencies, shutting down some entirely. The virus itself reached thousands of computers by sending itself through the mailing lists of infected devices.
