Malware
Worm
In Turkish: Solucan (worm)
Malware that spreads by itself from device to device over a network or by messages, without anyone opening a file.
Unlike a virus, a worm does not need a host file. It finds a weak spot, often a flaw that has already been fixed in an update, and copies itself to the next device it can reach. Some also message your contacts in your name.
Because they travel on their own, worms can reach many devices very fast. That is one more reason updates matter: a patched device is simply not on the worm's list.
What to do
- Install system updates soon after they appear.
- Keep the firewall on, especially on laptops you take to public networks.
- If a friend's message with a strange link arrives, tell them instead of tapping it.