What is a Computer Worm? A computer worm is a self- replicating program very similar to a virus. A virus attaches itself and becomes part of another executable program. However, a worm is self- contained and does not need to be part of another program to promote itself. They are often designed to good use of the file transmission capabilities found on computers. The name 'worm' was taken from “The Shockwave Rider”, a 1970s science fiction novel by John Brunner. Researchers writing an early paper noted the similarities between their software and the program described by Brunner. That’s why they adopted the name.

Along with viruses, one of the biggest threats to computer users on the Internet today is malware. It can hijack your browser, redirect your search attempts, serve up nasty pop-up ads, track what web sites you visit, and generally screw things up. Malware programs make your computer unbearably slow and unstable. Many of them will reinstall themselves even after you think you have removed them. They hide deep within Windows, making them very difficult to clean. You can get infected by malware in several ways. Malware often comes bundled with other programs like Kazaa and iMesh. Most notably some of the Cool Web Search variants, install themselves through holes in Internet Explorer, requiring you to do nothing but visit the wrong web page to get infected.

A Spyware ia any software that coverly gathers user information through the user’s Internet connection without his or her knowledge. Spyware applications are typically bundled as a hidden component of free- or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet. However, it should be noted that the majority of share- and freeware applications do not come with Spyware. Spyware is similar to a Trojan horse in that users unwittingly install the product when they install something else. A common way to become a victim of Spyware is to download certain peer-to-peer file swapping products that are available today.

Adware, also known as Adbot, can do a number of things from profile your online surfing and spending habits to popping up annoying ad windows as you surf. Adware has been bundled with other software without the user’s knowledge. Not all Adware is bad. However, most users are annoyed by Adware’s intrusive behavior. Adware can be obnoxious in that it performs “drive-by-downloads.” These are accomplished by providing a misleading dialogue box or other methods of stealth installation. Many times users have no idea they have installed the application.

Hijackers are applications that attempt to control the user’s homepage and reset it with one of the hijackers choosing. They are a low security threat, but obnoxious. Most hijackers use stealth techniques or trick dialogue boxes to perform installation.