Anna Kournikova (computer virus)

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/anna-kournikova--computer-virus-

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the malware classification?Computer worm, specifically a Visual Basic Script (VBS) worm
2. What is the date of emergence?February 2001
3. What was the Anna Kournikova worm?It was a computer worm that pretended to be a photo of tennis star Anna Kournikova to trick people into opening it. The worm spread through email but did not damage computers.
4. Why did the worm use a picture of Anna Kournikova?Many people were curious about her, so they were more likely to open the attachment. This made the worm spread faster.

Computer Worm: A self-replicating malware program that spreads across computer networks, often exploiting vulnerabilities without user intervention.
Social Engineering: The art of manipulating people into performing specific actions or divulging confidential information, often through psychological tactics.
Visual Basic Script (VBS): A scripting language developed by Microsoft, often used for automating tasks and creating simple applications, but also for malware.
Malware Payload: The part of a malware program that performs the malicious action, such as deleting files or stealing data.