What does a Internet worm do?

An Internet worm is type of malicious software (malware) that self-replicates and distributes copies of itself to its network. These independent virtual viruses spread through the Internet, break into computers, and replicate without intervention from and unbeknownst to computer users.

What is the impact of a worm?

Computer worms are among the most common types of malware. They spread over computer networks by exploiting operating system vulnerabilities. Worms typically cause harm to their host networks by consuming bandwidth and overloading web servers. Computer worms can also contain “payloads” that damage host computers.

What did Morris worm do?

The Morris worm, named for its creator, Cornell University student Robert Tappan Morris, rapidly infected the limited (by today’s standards) computers connected to the internet. An estimated 6,000 machines, depleted of their resources as the worm depleted computing resources, shut down and were rendered inoperable.

What is the first Internet worm and how did it harm the Internet?

The worm only targeted computers running a specific version of the Unix operating system, but it spread widely because it featured multiple vectors of attack. For example, it exploited a backdoor in the Internet’s electronic mail system and a bug in the “finger” program that identified network users.

What happened Morris worm?

Morris was tried and convicted of violating United States Code: Title 18 (18 U.S.C. § 1030), the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in United States v. Morris. After appeals, he was sentenced to three years’ probation, 400 hours of community service, and a fine of $10,050 plus the costs of his supervision.

What was the first Internet worm?

Morris worm
The Morris worm or Internet worm of November 2, 1988, was one of the first computer worms distributed via the Internet, and the first to gain significant mainstream media attention. It also resulted in the first felony conviction in the US under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

How did internet worms get on the Internet?

Internet worms are also known as computer worms. Internet worms use various techniques to multiply over the Internet. Initial worms just scanned local network hard drives and folders, and then inserted themselves into programs. In the 1990s, Internet worms came in the form of Visual Basic scripts that replicated on computers running on Windows.

When did the Morris worm hit the Internet?

At around 8:30 p.m. on November 2, 1988, a maliciously clever program was unleashed on the Internet from a computer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This cyber worm was soon propagating at remarkable speed and grinding computers to a halt.

What does a worm do to a computer?

Like they do with computer networks, computer worms also target popular websites with insufficient security. When they manage to infect the site, internet worms can replicate themselves onto any computer being used to access the website in question.

What was the name of the first computer worm?

The Morris worm or Internet worm of November 2, 1988, was one of the first computer worms distributed via the Internet, and the first to gain significant mainstream media attention. It also resulted in the first felony conviction in the US under the 1986 Computer Fraud and Abuse Act . [1]

What happens if you get a worm on your computer?

That’s right; a worm won’t corrupt your files or break your computer. If anything, a worm will slow down a computer or network by sucking up hardware resources or internet bandwidth (again, similar to a real parasite). But some worms carry malicious payloads—code that makes your computer vulnerable to other malware.