Spyware, adware, keyloggers, viruses, worms – they all mean bad news for your computer. It is those worms that wriggle their way into your system that often cause major damage. In fact, they are one of the worst types of bugs your computer can acquire.

A Computer Worm is Born
Computer worms use a variety of different methods to invade your system. These nasty bugs are created by hackers and distributed via the Internet. Email is one of the most common ways to get a worm. Downloading an attachment may prove to be the seemingly benign action that releases the worm onto your computer.

Worms also travel through various other downloadable items online. Whether it be a free game, a download of a chart-topping song, or a simple document on a website, all have the capability of getting infected by a computer worm.

Another common way for worms to get around is through file-sharing programs. Every time you get files from someone you don’t know, there is the possibility that the file may have a worm. This includes programs for songs, movies, and various other file-sharing websites. This has made people far more cautious when reaching out to strangers on the World Wide Web. It has become risky business to download just about anything online.

A Worm’s Capabilities
Worms are perhaps even more pervasive than the average spyware program. There are several key differences between worms and spyware. Spyware is generally created for the purpose of gathering information. Keyloggers, one type of spyware, actually record your every keystroke, including passwords and e-mails. Other, less severe types of spyware simply surveil your Internet usage.

Another type of spyware, called adware, floods your computer with advertisements in pop-up form. While this is less frightening than the keyloggers, they can have detrimental effects on your computer’s performance.

The main feature that separates worms from spyware is the worm’s ability to self-replicate. Both viruses and worms are able to recreate themselves and spread to other computers. Unlike spyware, worms have to ability to move from one computer to another, wreaking havoc on every system it encounters.

Worms are far more than a mere annoyance. They actually have the ability to paralyze and shut down your computer. Worms can destroy your system and then work their way into other computers that are connected to yours.

Worms can spread through a number of channels. Computers that are connected through a network are particularly susceptible. This is why most companies invest in software to protect the entire network. Another way worms spread is through e-mail. Sometimes a worm is able to transfer through every e-mail listed in an online phonebook. Personal computers tend to be the most likely to get worms because they remain unprotected.

Battling Against the Worms
Installing antispyware software is by far the most effective way to protect your computer. There is a seemingly endless number of choices for this software, so it’s a good idea to do a little research before putting all your trust in one program.

Worms can transform good computers into useless machines. It is worth your time and money to devise a way to protect all of the important information on your computer. Purchase a trustworthy antispyware program, and you’ll be able to rest easy knowing that both your computer and the information on it are safe.