Cross-platform computer worms are a tool that hackers use to infect computers to control access to them. Computer worms are a dangerous virus because they are self-replicating, meaning they multiply and spread to other computer networks looking for a hole in Internet security. Computer worms do not need to attach to an existing computer program to access the victim's computer files. The computer worm was created by accident by a Cornell student named Robert Morris; he was looking for a way to manage the Internet in 1988. “Morris had no malicious intent, but a bug in his program caused many of the computers the worm landed on to crash. …but the worms have reached maturity and have since become an effective means of attacking Internet-connected systems” (Barwise). Today, hackers use the Morris worm to infect computers. “Five men suspected of spreading a notorious computer worm on Facebook and other social networks – and pocketing millions of dollars through online schemes – are hiding in plain sight in St. Petersburg, Russia. Russia…” (Richmond). Since its well-intentioned creation, the worm has only been used maliciously as a computer virus by money-seeking hackers, such as the Koobface gang in Russia. Hackers use botnets or “zombie” computers to infiltrate high-security computer servers and minimize intrusion attempts. be caught. A botnet is a collection of computers connected to the Internet controlled by a hacker who causes the infection. "In addition to using the computers they land on to spread further, they are designed to take control of them, either to steal confidential user information or to convert them into remote-controlled 'zombies'... in the middle paper.......used-facebook-to-spread-worm-operates-in-the-open.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0>.Smith, Edward “Gambling websites protect. cyber-singers." 2006. Web. April 30, 2014. .ZHENGCHUAN, XU, HU QING and ZHANG CHENGHONG "Why IT Talents Become Hackers." April 28, 2014. “Zombie Master Jeanson Ancheta Pleads Guilty” Spam Paessler Daily News, January 23, 2006. Web. April 28. 2014. .