Question

What is a worm, what does it do, and how does it propagate? Provide an example of a well-known worm.

Write about 500 words and sources

Answer 1

COMPUTER WORM

· A computer worm is a malware type which spreads their copies itself from one computer to another computer.

· Without any human interaction,a worm can replicated by itself.

· For causing damage,a worm does not need to attach itself to a software program.

· Worms are stand-alone malicious programs which can propogate independently and self-replicate as soon as they have breached the system.

· The parts of the operating system which are automatic and invisible to the user are used by the worms.

What does a computer worm do?

· A computer worm delete and modify files ,They also inject additional malicious software to the computer.

· By overloading a shared network, a worm will deplete the system resources which includes hard drive space ,bandwidth etc.

· A worm will wreak havoc the computer resources.

· A worm can steal the computer system’s data.

· A computer worm can install a backdoor ,this will allows the hacker to gain control over the computer system and its settings.

· A worm uses a computer network to spread itself.

· A computer worm copy themselves without host program and distribute themselves on the basis of law of exponential growth ,and then it controls the infection of computers in a very short time by using recursive method.

How does a worm propogate?

· Through software vulnerabilities,worms are transmitted.

· Instant Messages(IMs) and spam emails sometimes attached with worms.When we open the link provided in these attachments in spam emails and Instant Messages,we will download the worms by automatically through these links.

· Without the user’s knowledge,the worm silently goes to work and infects the machine.

· Through downloads and FTP server outbound tranmsissions the worms are spreaded.

· Network packets can often spread worms by self –propogating through shared access to any drive,device and file.

· Through P2P and filesharing also a worm can be transmitted or spread over a computer.

· Many links on the internet will be containing worms that cause harmful to the system.

Examples of computer worms

· Most famous worms include:

-Morris worm or internet worm

-Sobig worm

-Blaster worm

-Mydoom

· Internet worm or Morris worm:

-It was the first worm launched and spread through the internet accidently by Robert Tappan Morris in 1988

-It was the first worm to achieve important attention in the media.

-This worm was created originally for figuring the size of the internet without any damage or cause to internet.but an unexecpected outcome occurred to the code and it destroyed and become harmful to the network.

-A computer become unstable by adding each processes which cause slow down of the computer multiple times.

· Sobig worm:

-This computer worm appeared first time in 2003.

-Millions of Microsoft Windows computers connceted to the internet are infected from appearence of this worm.

-This worm duplicates itself and it spreads an electronic mail by iteslf.

References

· Barwise,Mike.”What is an internet worm?”