Fighting malware and spam

Worm

Malware that spreads itself across networks

Worms are a form of self-replicating malware which spread by placing copies of themselves in email attachments or instant messages, in shared folders or on visible network shares, or via backdoors or vulnerabilities in network-exposed software. As well as spreading, and using up valuable bandwidth in the process, worms often open further backdoors, disable security software and install bot software to add infected systems to zombie networks.

Worms have caused many of the biggest and highest-profile outbreaks in the history of malicious code, including the infamous Melissa and Loveletter incidents in the 1990s and SQL/Slammer in 2003.

Related news articles

Worm targets MS08-067 vulnerability

Exploit attack patches flaw once system penetrated.

1 December 2008

Microsoft issues emergency patch

Out-of-cycle update fixes serious, wormable flaw.

24 October 2008

Trojan-to-worm automation tool spotted

GUI gizmo adds extra spreading menace to any malware.

20 June 2008

Google Groups and Blogspot used to serve malware

Company finds own IP address to be serving most malware.

7 April 2008

April Storm

April Fools' Day emails contain new variant of infamous worm.

1 April 2008

  see all related news stories

Poll

VB2010