What is a computer worm?

A computer worm is a standalone malware that generates copies of itself and infects other systems without human intervention.

Unlike viruses, worms are activated without human intervention and do not require a host computer to replicate.

Types

Worms can be categorized into the following groups:

• Internet worms: These attack infamous websites with poor security protocols and infect every computer accessing them. In addition, these worms travel further using the Internet or LAN used by the infected computer.

• File sharing worms: Worms are spread through file-sharing or peer-to-peer file transfers. The system is infected when a file is viewed or downloaded.

• Email worms: Worms are disguised as attachments in the email, which are activated when the attachment is clicked upon or downloaded. For further infections, the same email is sent to the victim's contact list.

• Instant messaging worms: Similar to email worms, malware is spread through instant messaging apps.

How does a worm spread?

Worms can spread through numerous platforms, such as the following:

• Phishing emails

• External devices, such as USB or smartphones

• Instant messaging

• Web surfing

• Internet or LAN

• File sharing

• Networks

• Security holes

• IoT devices

• Torrent

Working

Worms use social engineering to trick people into downloading attachments containing the malware or clicking a link that redirects them to a bogus website infecting their system.

After installation, the worm self-replicates and spreads to other computers by exploiting system vulnerabilities. It can have different purposes, such as the following:

• It consumes bandwidth

• It deletes, changes, or encrypts files

• It installs other malware, like ransomware

• It opens a backdoor

• It steals or compromises data

• It overloads the network

• It consumes hard drive space

• It makes the system freeze or crash

• It can display error messages, alerts, and notifications

Prevention

It is essential to protect our devices from worms by following good security practices, such as the following:

• Ensure all software and apps are up-to-date

• Conduct regular anti-virus and anti-malware scans to detect and remove potential threats

• Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments

• Use the two-factor authentification method whenever possible

• Choose a strong and complex password for all social networks and hardware devices

• Use a firewall to filter out traffic

• Encrypt sensitive data to protect worms from using it