Having a computer worm in your devices can’t be good news, in the same way that having worms in your body is bad for your health. We’re not medical experts, so we can’t tell you much about biological worms, but computer worms? That we can talk about, which is exactly what we’ll do in this article. What is a computer worm? What kind of damage can it do? How do we remove it? We’ll answer all that right here. Our Picks for Computer Worm ProtectionWhat Is a Computer Worm?By definition, a computer worm is a type of malware. Its most distinct feature? Its ability to spread quickly without human interaction. It self-replicates once it gets into your computer, smartphone, or tablet, which is why it’s one of the scariest types of malware. Kaspersky Antivirus App Home ScreenHow Does a Computer Worm Work?As a type of malware, computer worms can do various harmful things to your devices. Some simply self-replicate to the point that they eat up storage disk space and system memory, rendering your device unusable. Others modify or delete files, or even install additional malicious programs. And because computer worms can spread like wildfire, hackers may design them to install backdoor programs, giving cybercriminals access to their target’s devices. The infamous WannaCry worm (aka WannaCryptor) is an example.1 How a Worm SpreadsA computer worm takes advantage of system vulnerabilities to accelerate its spread. It can jump from one device to another through different means, be that an email attachment, malicious link, or local area network (LAN). Here are the most common ways a computer worm spreads:
The Damaging Impact of Computer WormsComputer worms have caused billions of dollars in damages over the past few decades. The MyDoom worm alone caused approximately $38.5 billion in economic damages when it first came out in 2004.3 It targeted business websites, causing massive slowdown of services, bandwidth clogging, productivity delays, and overall loss of business. Computer worms can cause damage to end users like us, too. Depending on its payload – the code that carries out the malware’s mission – worms can change or delete our files, lock us out of important folders, or cause performance issues for our devices. Some hackers even use worms to steal data, which can lead to identity theft. That is why it is crucial to protect ourselves against computer worms. ESET – Scan CompleteInfamous Examples of Computer WormsThere have been many significant computer worm attacks in the past, and the scary thing is, some of them exist to this day. The MyDoom worm, for instance, is still actively sending itself through email attachments 16 years after its creation; if it were a child, it would be driving by now! Here are several other computer worms that have caused significant damage in the past:
The History of Computer WormsComputer worms have evolved over the decades. What started out as a simple programming mistake by a computer science student is now a dangerous hacking tool. The Worm That Started It AllThe Morris worm (aka The Worm), which wreaked havoc in 1988, is the very first computer worm with real-world impact. Named after its creator, Robert Morris, the Morris worm was a software program that exploited the vulnerabilities of email protocols during that time. Its purpose? To highlight network weaknesses and raise awareness. However, the worm turned out to be more contagious than Morris originally anticipated. Within 24 hours, it infiltrated around 6,000 of the approximately 60,000 internet-connected computers back then. What’s worse is that due to a programming oversight, the program self-replicated rapidly to the point that the infected computers became unusable. Ultimately, the Morris worm achieved its goal of highlighting network weaknesses, as it gained significant media attention. But at what cost? Financially, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that the Morris worm caused up to $10 million in damages.6 Ouch! Computer Worms as PranksFor some time after the Morris worm incident, hackers used computer worms for pranks. For instance, the Father Christmas worm infiltrated NASA’s network to deliver greetings on Christmas Eve, 1988.7 Though harmless, the worm prompted NASA to strengthen its network security measures, and it’s a good thing they did. The measures they implemented helped foil a similar computer worm attack three weeks later. In the following decades, however, computer worms became more and more pesky. In 1999, the Happy99 worm spread through emails and, like the Father Christmas worm, displayed a New Year greeting. However, in the background, it modified system files.8 Similar computer worms spread throughout the early 2000s, with some capable of deleting or modifying files, stealing passwords, defacing websites, and even spreading political views. The More You Know: A computer worm may exhibit traits of a virus. Known as worm hybrids, this type of malware spreads like a computer worm but with the ability of viruses to alter program codes. Computer Worms and CybercriminalsEventually, cybercriminals found a way to make money out of computer worms, usually at the expense of unsuspecting users. The WannaCry worm mentioned above, for instance, contained ransomware that locked people out of their computers through encryption unless they paid a ransom. Some computer worms, on the other hand, are just there to cause damage. One example is the Code Red worm, which orchestrated a DDoS attack on the U.S. White House, eventually forcing its servers to change IP addresses.9 Today, computer worms are more destructive than ever, so it’s vital for each of us to know how to protect ourselves from this type of malware. But in order to do that, we must first understand the different types of worms, how they spread, and how to detect them. Virus Definitions Up to Date Avast AntivirusTypes of Computer WormsComputer worms are usually classified by how they spread. Here are the different types:
How to Prevent and Get Rid of Computer WormsNow that we know what to look out for, let’s learn how to get rid of computer worms. How to Tell if Your Device Has a WormThe first step is detecting if a worm has infected your computer. Infected computers often show warning signs such as:
If you notice one or more of these symptoms on your computer, smartphone, or tablet, then you most likely have a worm. To verify, you could scan your device with antivirus software. How to Remove a Computer WormAnd if there really is a worm, what do you do now?
Prevention Is the Best CureOf course, when it comes to computer worms, prevention is the best cure. Here are a few tips on how to protect yourself from computer worms:
Protect Yourself With a Strong AntivirusThere’s one more thing you can do to protect yourself against computer worms: Get a strong antivirus software program. Here are some features of antivirus software proven effective in fighting against computer worms:
If you’re looking for strong antivirus software, most of the best antivirus tools we’ve tested offer those features. From Our Experts: A strong antivirus is one that can detect, remove, and prevent all types of malware, including computer worms. Is a Computer Worm a Virus?Strictly speaking, a computer worm is not a virus. Worms and viruses are both types of malware, but they behave and spread differently. What Is a Computer Virus?A computer virus is a type of malicious program that attaches itself to a legitimate program. When you execute the infected program, the virus also carries out its mission, like deleting or rewriting system files. Most of the time, the infected program continues to function properly, but there are instances where the virus corrupts or overwrites the entire program. How a Virus SpreadsUnlike worms, viruses do not self-replicate without human interaction. Viruses need the user to execute a program or open a file. A virus may be able to copy itself and move from one device or another. However, once on the new device, it needs action from the user to execute. Worm vs. Virus vs. TrojanA trojan virus is another type of malware often confused with worms and viruses, so let’s throw it into the mix. Here’s a handy table that shows the differences between these three types of malware.
In a Nutshell: Worms, viruses, and trojans are all types of malware with different characteristics. A worm spreads the fastest because it self-replicates, a virus causes the most damage because it can alter program codes, and a trojan is hardest to detect because it pretends to be a software utility. Are There Good Computer Worms?Researchers have created helpful computer worms called anti-worms or, more simply, helpful worms. The Nachi family of worms, also known as Welchia, is an example.11 It spread like a regular computer virus does, but instead of doing harm, it searched and deleted a harmful computer worm called “Blaster.” In addition, it exploited a Microsoft vulnerability, which allowed it to install Microsoft security patches without permission from the user. Anti-worms seek to perform tasks that its creators feel are useful. However, the morality of creating helpful worms is in question, as they still perform tasks on a person’s computer without their approval. Webroot SecureAnywhere AppRecapWorms, like any type of malware, can be quite damaging. A computer worm is especially bad, because it spreads quicker than other forms of malware. That is why knowing the symptoms of a worm-infected device and knowing how to remove worms are a must. However, installing a good antivirus is still the best protection we can get against worms. So if you don’t have one yet, we strongly recommend finding a strong antivirus ASAP. FAQsLearning what a computer worm is in a few minutes can be taxing, so allow us to review and answer the frequently asked questions about computer worms.
What are the most important measures for a firm to take to protect itself from hackers?5 Easy Ways to Protect Your Business Against Hackers. Change your passwords regularly. It's fairly common knowledge that default passwords should always be customized to each unique user. ... . Choose the right ISP. ... . Keep an eye on the spy(ware) ... . Encrypt customer data. ... . Limit access and block unecessary sites.. How do companies protect from hackers?If your team uses their personal devices for work, mandate that they use a password or PIN code. To further prevent your business from hacking, take advantage of mobile device management services from a third party.
What must one always keep to protect the computer system against the hacker and different kind of viruses?Right Answer is:
It is essential to always keep the firewall on in our computer system. It saves the computer system against hackers, viruses, and installing software form unknown sources.
How will you protect your system from virus and worms?Protect Yourself With a Strong Antivirus
On-access scans: Antivirus tools with this feature actively scan your device in the background to detect and prevent the spread of worms. Since computer worms self-replicate without human interaction, having your antivirus protect your device continuously is ideal.
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