Show
Aug. 28, 2019
Try Norton 360 FREE 30-Day
Trial* - Includes Norton Secure VPN30 days of FREE* comprehensive antivirus, device security and online privacy with Norton Secure VPN. Join today. Cancel anytime. *Terms Apply
A computer worm is a type of malware that spreads copies of itself from computer to computer. A worm can replicate itself without any human interaction, and it does not need to attach itself to a software program in order to cause damage. How do computer worms work?Worms can be transmitted via software vulnerabilities. Or computer worms could arrive as attachments in spam emails or instant messages (IMs). Once opened, these files could provide a link to a malicious website or automatically download the computer worm. Once it’s installed, the worm silently goes to work and infects the machine without the user’s knowledge. Worms can modify and delete files, and they can even inject additional malicious software onto a computer. Sometimes a computer worm’s purpose is only to make copies of itself over and over — depleting system resources, such as hard drive space or bandwidth, by overloading a shared network. In addition to wreaking havoc on a computer’s resources, worms can also steal data, install a backdoor, and allow a hacker to gain control over a computer and its system settings. How to tell if your computer has a wormIf you suspect your devices are infected with a computer worm, run a virus scan immediately. Even if the scan comes up negative, continue to be proactive by following these steps.
How to help protect against computer wormsComputer worms are just one example of malicious software. To help protect your computer from worms and other online threats, take these steps.
Try Norton 360 FREE 30-Day Trial* - Includes Norton Secure VPN30 days of FREE* comprehensive antivirus, device security and online privacy with Norton Secure
VPN. Join today. Cancel anytime. *Terms Apply
Copyright © 2022 NortonLifeLock Inc. All rights reserved. NortonLifeLock, the NortonLifeLock Logo, the Checkmark Logo, Norton, LifeLock, and the LockMan Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NortonLifeLock Inc. or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Firefox is a trademark of Mozilla Foundation. Android, Google Chrome, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google, LLC. Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Microsoft and the Window logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The Android robot is reproduced or modified from work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. Which type of malware uses a network to selfA computer worm is a type of malware whose primary function is to self-replicate and infect other computers while remaining active on infected systems.
What is Trojan and backdoor?Once activated, a trojan can spy on your activities, steal sensitive data, and set up backdoor access to your machine. A backdoor is a specific type of trojan that aims to infect a system without the knowledge of the user.
Which form of malware is capable of copying itself and spreading?Virus. A virus is a form of malware that is capable of copying itself and spreading to other computers. Viruses often spread to other computers by attaching themselves to various programs and executing code when a user launches one of those infected programs.
Which type of malware spreads from one system to another or from one network to another and causes similar types of damage as viruses do to the infected system?One of the most common types of malware, worms spread over computer networks by exploiting operating system vulnerabilities. A worm is a standalone program that replicates itself to infect other computers, without requiring action from anyone.
|