Worms Parent topic

A computer worm is a self-contained program (or set of programs) that is able to spread functional copies of itself or its segments to other computer systems. The propagation usually takes place through network connections or email attachments. Unlike viruses/malware, worms do not need to attach themselves to host programs. Worms often use email and applications, such as Microsoft™ Outlook™, to propagate. They may also drop copies of themselves into shared folders or utilize file-sharing systems, such as Kazaa, under the assumption that users will likely download them, thus letting the worm propagate. In some cases, worms use chat applications such as ICQ, AIM, mIRC, or other Peer-to-Peer (P2P) programs to spread copies of themselves.