~hyperlinks

The coolest thing about the prototype is that it carries its own LLM with it, and runs it on computers that have been broken into.

Schneier compares this to John Brunner's conception of a worm in 

) and had a hard time remembering what the conception was.

Wikipedia had this to say about the worm:

Computer worm

Tapeworm

, a digestive parasite. A biological tapeworm consists of a head attached to a long train of reproductive segments, each of which can produce more worms when detached. Brunner's "data-net tapeworm" consists of a head followed by other segments, each being some kind of code which has effects on databases and other systems. Several are unleashed in the book. Besides the two Hearing Aid tapeworms, and Nick's ultimate tapeworm, there is a "denunciation tapeworm" created as revenge by a representative of Anti-Trauma Inc. whom Nick insults and curses. At the time, Nick was playing the role of a priest in a revivalist church. The worm's intent was to destroy the church by cancelling all its utility services. Nick in turn sends another worm into the network to destroy that one.

I vaguely recall this, but not well. Perhaps I need to give 

> Researchers have [prototyped](https://cleverhans.io/worm) an AI-powered [internet worm](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/02/technology/scientists-find-way-to-supercharge-dangerous-computer-worms-with-ai.html).
> 
> The coolest thing about the prototype is that it carries its own LLM with it, and runs it on computers that have been broken into.

Schneier compares this to John Brunner's conception of a worm in *The Shockwave Rider*. I really didn't like that book (https://stacker.news/items/418728) and had a hard time remembering what the conception was.

Wikipedia had this to say about the worm:

> Brunner's concept of the [computer worm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_worm "Computer worm") was inspired by analogy with the [tapeworm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapeworm "Tapeworm"), a digestive parasite. A biological tapeworm consists of a head attached to a long train of reproductive segments, each of which can produce more worms when detached. Brunner's "data-net tapeworm" consists of a head followed by other segments, each being some kind of code which has effects on databases and other systems. Several are unleashed in the book. Besides the two Hearing Aid tapeworms, and Nick's ultimate tapeworm, there is a "denunciation tapeworm" created as revenge by a representative of Anti-Trauma Inc. whom Nick insults and curses. At the time, Nick was playing the role of a priest in a revivalist church. The worm's intent was to destroy the church by cancelling all its utility services. Nick in turn sends another worm into the network to destroy that one.

I vaguely recall this, but not well. Perhaps I need to give *The Shockwave Rider* a second chance.