Computer worm

Virus Blaster

Conficker

Morris Worm

Computer worm

A computer worm is a type of malware that replicates itself in order to spread to other computers. Unlike a computer virus, which requires the spreading of an infected host file, a worm is standalone software and does not require a host program or human help to propagate. Worms almost always cause harm to the network, even if only by consuming bandwidth, whereas viruses almost always corrupt or modify files on a targeted computer.

History

The concept of a computer worm was first theorized by John von Neumann in the 1940s, who outlined the theory of self-replicating programs. The first actual implementation of a worm was the Creeper system in the early 1970s, which was an experimental self-replicating program written by Bob Thomas at BBN Technologies. Creeper was designed to move between DEC PDP-10 systems using the ARPANET, displaying the message, "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can!" The Reaper program was later created to delete Creeper.

A more notorious example is the Morris worm, released in 1988 by Robert Tappan Morris, which was the first worm to spread extensively in the wild, infecting thousands of computers. This incident highlighted the potential of worms to cause widespread disruption and led to the creation of the CERT Coordination Center.

Operation

Computer worms typically exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems, software applications, or networks to spread. Once a worm infects a system, it can perform a variety of malicious actions, such as deleting files, encrypting data for ransomware attacks, or creating a backdoor to the affected system. Worms can also install a payload that allows the attacker to control the infected computer remotely.

Prevention and Mitigation

To prevent worm infections, users and administrators are advised to keep their software and operating systems up to date with the latest security patches, use firewalls, and install antivirus software. Regularly backing up data can also mitigate the damage caused by worms. In the event of an infection, disconnecting the affected system from the network can help prevent the worm from spreading further.

Notable Worms

Some of the most infamous computer worms include:

• ILOVEYOU: A worm that spread via email in 2000, causing billions of dollars in damage.
• Sobig: A worm that spread through emails and network shares in 2003.
• Mydoom: Considered one of the fastest-spreading worms, it was released in 2004.
• Conficker: Discovered in 2008, it infected millions of computers worldwide and exploited vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows.

See Also

• Computer security
• Cyberattack
• Malware
• Virus