What is an Internet worm?
01 11 2003
An Internet worm is a form of computer virus that can multiply automatically across networks without human intervention. Worms can copy themselves using email and other means of distribution and may arrive in the form of a program apparently from a trusted source.
Worms do not infect other programs but they can contain malicious payloads that may, for example, delete all data on a hard disk. Often they become noticable only when they replicate and slow down normal functions of a computer or bring them to a complete halt.
MS Blaster (or Welchia) and Bugbear are examples of prolific worms that started attacking computers via email in mid 2003.
The original Sasser worm was first discovered in January 2004 and its latest variant affects Microsoft Windows computer systems. Sasser was upgraded bySymantec to a Grade 4 threat in May 2004.
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