Computer Virus Help
by Henri Delger

e-Mail Viruses („Worms”)

As the Internet has grown in popularity, e-mail has evolved from a convenience enjoyed by a few to a necessity for almost everyone. The vandals who used to write virus programs, which are spread by infected files and disks, have changed their tactics to take advantage of the universality of e-mail. They now write „Worm” programs, and have invented new ways to use e-mail to spread them.

An e-mail „Worm” is a stand-alone computer program, similar to a virus, in that it spreads from one computer to another. However, unlike a computer virus, a „Worm” does not need a host (program) file, and this allows a „Worm” to be built into the body of an e-mail message.

Because „Worms” can be mailed (and can even mail themselves) to many people in an instant, they can spread quickly over the Internet, and simply reading an e-mail can spread a „Worm” to yourself and others, especially at work, where many computers are linked to one another directly. That means expensive downtime for those who don’t secure their systems.