Once tech companies detect that worm through in-house testing or reports from anti-virus companies, they’ll respond by patching the vulnerability that made the worm possible.

Additionally, when a hacker spreads a worm, they’re effectively telling tech companies that an OS vulnerability exists. In the age of frustratingly frequent software updates, those vulnerabilities change week by week. Remember, worms target system vulnerabilities. GaudiLab/ShutterstockĪs of right now, hackers rarely create payload-less worms. That is unless the worm carries a payload. Sure, they slow down computers and turn high-speed networks into snails, but when compared with file-corrupting viruses and hundred-thousand-dollar ransomware, worms are a walk in the park. Modern Internet Worms Usually Carry Payloads

Since worms can quietly (and harmlessly) duplicate themselves across networks, they make great vehicles for large-scale virus attacks or ransomware attacks on governments and businesses. But some worms carry malicious payloads-code that makes your computer vulnerable to other malware.

Google worm virus