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In cyber security, a Computer Worm is a subclass of malware that spreads standalone copies of itself throughout interconnected systems over local networks or the internet.

The primary operational nature of a classic worm includes:

Resource Exhaustion: It multiplies dynamically at a rapid pace. Rather than deleting or corrupting operating system files (destructive actions), it fills up the system's memory buffers, CPU cycles, and network interface queues.

Self-Replication: It exploits security vulnerabilities in the network protocol layers to automatically travel from computer to computer without any user executing an infected attachment.

A historic example of this is the Morris Worm, which severely congested the internet infrastructure by consuming its routing and processing resources.