Latest Blog - 3/14/2010
How Does a Computer Worm Spread -
A computer worm is different than a computer virus. Yes, they are both self-replicating, but a computer virus is not always self-contained. This means that a computer virus can sneak into other system files and keep spreading and infecting files within that targeted computer; a virus depends on other files to spread. On the other hand, a computer worm likes to work alone; it does not need other files to spread and typically does not infect existing files on the computer. Viruses typically only harm the targeted computer, whereas worms infect the network. Worms consume bandwidth, which can cause havoc on accessibility if a large enough spread throughout the network occurs. According to Microsoft, some worms clog networks, making it impossible to view certain web pages and possibly download programs, most commonly preventing the download of security products.