Worms

imagesimCOMPUTER WORMS

 ** Computer Worms ** are malicious software applications designed to spread via computer networks. Computer worms are one form of **malware** along with viruses  and Trojans . A person typically installs worms by inadvertently opening an email attachment or message that contains executable scripts.  Kinds of Computer Worms:

1.**Email** **Worms -** Spreading goes via infected email messages. Any form of attachment or link in an email may contain a link to an infected website. In the first case activation starts when the user clicks on the attachment while in the second case the activation starts when clicking the link in the email.

2.**Instant Messaging Worms -** The spreading used is via instant messaging applications by sending links to infected websites to everyone on the local contact list. The only difference between these and email worms is the way chosen to send the links.

3.**Internet Worms -** These ones will scan all available network resources using local operating system services and/or scan the Internet for vulnerable machines. Attempt will be made to connect to these machines and gain full access to them.

4.**IRC Worms** - Chat channels are the main target and the same infection/spreading method is used as above - sending infected files or links to infected websites. Infected file sending is less effective as the recipient needs to confirm receipt, save the file and open it before infection will take place.

5.<span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">**File-sharing Networks** **Worms -** <span style="font-size: 8.5pt; color: black; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Copies itself into a shared folder, most likely located on the local machine. The worm will place a copy of itself in a shared folder under a harmless name. Now the worm is ready for download via the P2P network and spreading of the infected file will continue.



There are many steps that you can take to protect your self from computer worms. One of the most important and the simplest ways to protect yourself from computer worms is by being careful and aware of what kind of emails and attachments you recieve what you open and whom it is from. There is a lot of junk and spam email with worms that ends up directly to your inbox.
 * Simple ways to Prevent Computer Worms**

If you are not expecting an email or do not recognize the person, the best way would be delete it right away. Also, be aware of attachements and emails you recieve from your own family and friends. Most of the time, people receive woms from individuals they know. You're friends may not realize that they are sending you a virus or a worm, so,you need to inform them and fix the problem before it causes more damge.

In addition to email, worms can also infect computers via web sites, file sharing systems, instant messages, and more. Therefore, any computer connected to the Internet runs the risk of being infected with a malicious worm. To protect computers from being infected with a worm, anti virus software should be used. Anti virus software runs in the background of a computer, preventing viruses, worms and other malware from causing harm. Anti virus software utilize two primary methods for detecting and removing dangerous threats – virus definitions and heuristics. The virus definition method, the most common technique for detecting worms and viruses, scans all potentially malicious files against a master list known viruses and worms. Most anti virus software includes an auto-updating feature that enables the program to download definitions of new malware so that it can provide protection from the latest threats. The second method of virus/worm detection, heuristic scanning, identifies malware based on common malicious behaviors, enabling protection from viruses and worms that have not yet been added to the software’s definitions.

media type="file" key="worms_0001.wmv" width="217" height="179"

By Kyle & Michael