What Is...a worm virus (a definition)

worm

Also see WORM (write once read many), a compact disc technology.

A worm is a type of virus or replicative code that situates itself in a computer system in a place where it can do harm. There are viruses (such as Melissa) that don't "worm themselves in" to a place where they can do much harm and simply replicate themselves by e-mail to many computers. Worm.ExploreZip is an example of a worm. Like most computer viruses, worms usually come in Trojan horses.

Selected Links

Symantec's Antivirus Research Center provides more information.

Trend Micro's alert list is also useful.

Created on June 11, 1999; last updated on September 11, 1999.