The Federal Trade Commission recommends that users avoid clicking login links embedded in emails, and instead visit the site directly and login through there. If they must use public wifi, they should use a VPN in order to secure traffic over the network.Įmail education is also crucial since many worms gain access through phishing emails. Users should avoid public or unsecured wifi channels, which can act as a vector through which worms can travel. As well, they should avoid putting unknown USBs into their computer ports, or visiting malicious or unsecure sites that can harbor malware. They should practice good password hygiene by not reusing passwords across multiple accounts. Therefore, training users to guard their devices against malware is essential.įirstly, users should know security best practices. They can bypass security systems set in place by administrators. Worms that infect a computer through file sharing, emails, and malicious links require human intervention. Preventing Computer Worms Through Education It will also send spoofed emails directly to the spam or trash folder. A good email filter can detect if these links or files are present. As well, traffic monitoring can detect suspicious spikes in network traffic that indicate a worm attempting to transfer a large payload into a device.Įmail scanning is crucial, since many worms gain access through fake emails with malicious links - also known as phishing emails. Antivirus programs can scan for and delete known malware files.
Firewalls will filter network traffic for suspicious or unauthorized files and programs.
Security software is crucial for preventing computer worms. Devices running an out-of-date operating system put other devices in the network at risk this is because they can act as a Patient 0 for a worm attack. Vendors will frequently release vulnerability patches in updates that prevent malware from gaining entry.
It’s crucial for admins to update their devices regularly. Having robust security from an IT perspective can prevent computer worms before they even access the network, or neutralize them as soon as they enter. There are several steps that administrators can take in order to prevent computer worms from infecting network devices. Preventing Computer Worms Through Security They slow down network traffic, take up storage space, and can corrupt or destroy files if they are not quickly removed. To prevent computer worms, IT admins must have a robust IT security system, educate users on security best practices, and act quickly when a worm infects a device.Ĭomputer worms are pieces of malware that infect a device and make copies of themselves, going on to infect other devices in the system.