Internet worm / definitions

Hello virus people,

Various organisations, virus professionals, classify almost all modern virusses as being an "Internet Worm"..

What exactly is it that makes a virus a worm? Logic thinking might imply that only virusses that send them selves automatically without user intervention should be called worm. But seemingly even virusses that get _activated_ by users, by means of opening atachements, are called Internet worms..

What is the difference between a Worm and a *regular* i.e. mass-mailing virus? Or is any via internet-transported virus a worm per definition ?

Thanks for explaining in advance.

Joao.

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