Cybersecurity Glossary
Worm
Malware that spreads by itself from machine to machine without anyone opening anything.
What Worm means
A worm exploits a network vulnerability to copy itself to the next system automatically. No user action is needed, which is why worm outbreaks move in minutes rather than days. Several of the most damaging incidents in recent history combined a worm with ransomware.
Why Worm matters for small businesses and nonprofits
A worm turns one unpatched machine into a whole network event. For a flat network with no segmentation, which describes most small offices, there is nothing to slow it down once it is inside.
What to do about Worm
- Patch internet facing and internal services promptly, especially remote access
- Segment the network so a single infection cannot reach everything
- Disable legacy protocols that are still enabled by default on older systems
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