WORM

A worm is like a virus in the way it can replicate itself to infect other computer systems. However, unlike a virus, a worm doesn’t need to be attached to an existing program or be prompted to execute. A virus requires human intervention to become attached to a file, attachment, or website link while a worm can attach itself and self-propagate.

A worm can slow bandwidth, install backdoor programs, and even “eat” data files and operating systems until the drive is empty. Because worms don’t require any action by the user to be released or spread, these are particularly tricky to defend against and rid from computer systems.

A worm is self-replicating and spreads without end-user action, causing real devastation. Viruses need end users to kick them off so that they can go on and infect other files and systems. On the other hand, worms don’t need any such end-user action. They’d simply spread by themselves, self-replicating in the process and destroying systems, devices, networks and connected infrastructure as well. Worms spread by exploiting other files and programs to do the spreading work.  When one person in an organization opens an email that contains a worm, the entire network in the organization could get infected in just a few minutes.
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