COMPUTER WORM AND ITS TYPE
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
When someone mentions worms, they probably think of squirming creatures that children play with and adults use as bait for fishing. Like it or not, worms are totally harmless, unless they are computer worms. They may not harm you as virus do but they are dangerous too.
Summary: A
computer worm is a piece of software that copies itself from one computer to
another. Unlike the virus, it is a standalone program that does not need a
host. It does not normally attack files on a single computer. Instead, it spans
entire networks and tries to create large botnets. Read on to learn more about
computer worms.
The
definition: What is a computer worm?
A computer worm is a malicious component that reproduces
itself from one computer to another, in order to take over the entire computer
network. Most worms are there for weakening of the computer system. They also
take all your useful and important information.
If the worm is malicious and is not only used to breach
system security, the code designed to carry out the attack is called payload.
Payloads are typically created to change or delete files from the attacked
network, extract or encrypt personal information, and demand ransom from the
victim.
Viruses attack individual computers by definition, while
worms target computer networks to create botnets. On the other hand, while
viruses are housed in legitimate files or programs, computer worms are
independent and do not need a host file.
What
types of computer worms are there?
No statistics is available but it is said that there are more
than million worms present in the world. Many are isolated and scanned by best antivirus. However, new
worms develop almost daily and can sometimes go unnoticed by the user until it
is too late.
There is no classification of computer worms, but they can
be organized into types based on how they spread between computers. The five
most common types are:
Internet
worms
As they do with computer networks, computer worms also
attack popular web pages that are insufficiently secure. They manage to infect
those who are trying to open that page. From there, the computer worms spread
to other computers connected via the internet and local area connections.
Email
Worms
The most common way to distribute email worms is through
dangerous email attachments. When you click on any infected attachment it's
saved and send to your contact list.
An email doesn't have to have downloadable content to
spread a computer worm. Instead, the body of the message can contain a
shortened link, so that the receiver cannot determine what it is about if they
do not click on it. When they click the link they are taken to infected website
and some infected files gets downloaded automatically
Instant
Messaging Worms
Instant messaging worms are exactly the same as email
worms, the only difference being the way they spread. Again, they are hidden in
the form of attachments or links to web pages. They are often accompanied by
short "LOL" or "You have to see this!" to make them open
the mail.
When the user clicks the link or the attachment, whether in
Messenger, WhatsApp, Skype or any other popular messaging application, the
exact same message will be sent to their contacts. If the worm has not
replicated on their computer, users can solve this problem with a password
change.
File
Sharing Worms
Even though it is illegal, sharing and transferring files
between users is still in use by millions of people around the world. By doing
this, you are making your computer closer to threat.
When the victim opens the downloaded file to view or listen
to it, they will download the worm onto their computer. Even if the user
appears to have downloaded an actual playable media file, the malicious
executable file could be hidden in the folder and could be installed discreetly
when the media file was first opened.
How to
eliminate a computer worm?
The best antivirus can help you
in detecting and removing computer worm. If you suspect that your computer has
been infected, it is important to scan and remove dangerous files from your
system immediately.
Since worms exploit weaknesses in your system and software,
you must ensure that you are using the most current versions of applications.
Activate the automatic updates option for your operating system to make sure
your computer is protected against worms and other potential threats. Do not
click on any links or open any attachments, unless you are absolutely sure that
they were sent by your friends and not by a worm.
Finally, to be sure that your computer has online security,
you need to invest in the best antivirus software. The
most suitable option will provide real-time protection for your computer and
will defend against all threats, including worms, viruses, harmful programs,
spyware (spyware) and computer hijackers (ransomware).
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Comments
Post a Comment