| Our
computer is constantly being attacked by viruses. These viruses
goal is to just demolish our computers. Viruses can be acquired
by our computer through corrupt files. One
of the ways we can be able to be infected with corrupt files
is through the internet. The internet is a world where we all
share lots and lots of information. However, these things come
at a price sometimes. There are viruses that come and go as
we share information, files and data.
One of those things
that can corrupt our computer online is worms. These worms reproduce
independently and travel across the network connections. A worm
differs from a virus in how they reproduce and spread.
Viruses are dependent
on host files or boot sectors and the virus will spread due
to the sharing of files between tow machines.
Kinds of Computer
Worms:
E-mail worms:
The spread of the virus is due to infected emails. There will
be an attachment or a link that is infected. The worm will be
activated when you either click on the attachment or the link.
The known methods
of the email worm to spread are the following: MS outlook servers,
direct connection of SMTP servers that use their very own SMTP
API and the Windows MAPI functions.
This worm will then
harvest an infected computer’s email addresses to send out the
worm. It will harvest it from the following: WAB or windows
address book database, MS outlook address book and files that
also have appropriate extensions will be scanned to serve as
strings via the email.
During the sending
period, some worms will construct new sender addresses. It will
be based on possible names combined with domain names that are
common. So the sender doesn’t necessarily need to be the originator.
Instant Message Worms:
A person will be sent an infected link via instant messaging
mediums such as Yahoo Messenger or MSN. The only difference
it has from email worms is how they are sent.
Internet Worms:
These worms will scan all available network resources. It will
then use the local operating system services and scan the Internet
for machines that are vulnerable. It will then attempt to connect
with these machines and try to gain full access.
Another way these
worms work is that they scan the Internet for machines that
are vulnerable to be exploited. It will then send data packets
that will install the worm or a form of worm downloader.
IRC worms:
The worms here work the same as email worms. The only difference
is that the medium is the chat channels. A person you are chatting
with will send files or links that are infected.
File-sharing Worms:
It copies itself on a shared folder of the local machine. It
will place a copy of itself in a folder disguised in a harmless
name. The worm will then become ready to be downloaded via P2P
and the infected file will then spread. |
