WHAT IS COMPUTER WORM &
HOW IT AFFECTS US?
The fundamental difference between a worm and a virus is
the way in which it spreads copies of itself to non-infected
machines. For a definition of a computer worm, think of worms
as self-sufficient malware capable of running and proliferating
without user interaction. You don't even have to be using your
computer for the worm to activate, replicate, and spread.
Once the worm has reached your computer, it can begin to
spread immediately. To stop it use an antivirus software and
we will also discuss few points in this blog ahead.
What Is A Computer Worm?
Worms are actually a subclass of viruses, so they share
characteristics. They are programs that make copies of
themselves, hosting them in different locations on the
computer.
The objective of this malware is usually to collapse computers
and computer networks, thus preventing users from working.
Unlike viruses, worms do not infect files.
What Do Computer Worms Do?
The main objective of worms is to spread and affect as many
devices as possible. To do this, they create copies of
themselves on the affected computer, which they later
distribute through different means, such as email or P2P
programs, among others.
Worms often use social engineering techniques to be more
effective. To do this, malware writers select an attractive
theme or name to disguise the malicious file. The most
recurring topics are those related to sex, celebrities, current
affairs or pirated software.
We replicate computer viruses by sending infected
attachments via emails, instant messages, etc., to other users.
Like us, they unknowingly download and open the attached
file.
How Do Computer Worms Work?
Computer worms are dangerous because of their capacity. As
soon as a worm takes hold on a host machine, it can spread
across a network without the need for outside help or action.
As standalone malware, worms do not need to trick you into
activating them, as Trojans do.
Worms exploit hidden vulnerabilities in your