Here are the most common ways a computer worm spreads: It can jump from one device to another through different means, be that an email attachment, malicious link, or local area network (LAN). 1 Trend Micro Logs Tab How a Worm SpreadsĪ computer worm takes advantage of system vulnerabilities to accelerate its spread. The infamous WannaCry worm (aka WannaCryptor) is an example. And because computer worms can spread like wildfire, hackers may design them to install backdoor programs, giving cybercriminals access to their target’s devices. Others modify or delete files, or even install additional malicious programs.
Some simply self-replicate to the point that they eat up storage disk space and system memory, rendering your device unusable. View Packages Kaspersky Antivirus App Home Screen How Does a Computer Worm Work?Īs a type of malware, computer worms can do various harmful things to your devices.