The top 20 most dangerous PC viruses
The top 20 most dangerous PC viruses
As the world increasingly moves online, our reliance on computers grows with each passing day. Unfortunately, so does our vulnerability to attack from malicious software, or “malware.” Malware comes in many forms, but viruses are perhaps the best known and most feared.
A computer virus is a type of malware that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. Viruses can cause a range of problems, from slowing down your computer to causing data loss or even deleting files. In some cases, viruses can also be used to steal confidential information or take control of your computer remotely.
While there are hundreds of thousands of different viruses out there, some are more dangerous than others. In this article, we’ll take a look at 20 of the most dangerous viruses of all time.
1. ILOVEYOU
ILOVEYOU is a virus that spread rapidly around the world in May 2000. It was disguised as a love letter, which lured victims into opening the attachment and executing the virus. Once executed, ILOVEYOU would send itself to all of the victim’s contacts and overwrite important files on their computer. It’s estimated that ILOVEYOU caused around $10 billion in damage and affected more than 50 million people.
2. Code Red
Code Red was a worm that targeted Microsoft’s IIS web server software in July 2001. It used a buffer overflow exploit to take control of systems, and then installed a backdoor that allowed attackers to remotely control the infected computers. Code Red was used in a number of high-profile attacks, including defacements of the White House and FBI websites.
3. Nimda
Nimda was a virus that spread quickly via email and network shares in September 2001. It used a number of different methods to spread, including infecting executables and opening a backdoor on the victim’s computer. Nimda was one of the most widespread viruses of all time, with an estimated 1.2 million infections in just the first 24 hours.
4. Blaster
Like Code Red, Blaster was a worm that exploited a buffer overflow in Microsoft’s IIS web server software. Unlike Code Red, however, Blaster also included a Denial of Service (DoS) attack against a Microsoft website. The worm was first discovered in August 2003, and infections quickly spread around the world. Blaster was responsible for a number of high-profile infections, including those of NASA and the US Department of Homeland Security.
5. Mydoom
Mydoom was a virus that spread via email attachments and peer-to-peer networks in January 2004. It was notable for being the first virus to use a botnet for its propagation, as well as for its use of a backdoor to allow remote control of infected computers. Mydoom was, at the time, the fastest-spreading email worm of all time. It’s estimated that Mydoom caused around $38 billion in damage.
6. Sasser
Sasser was a worm that exploited a buffer overflow in the Windows Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) in May 2004. It spread quickly, particularly on university and corporate networks, and caused a number of high-profile infections. Sasser was notable for being one of the first worms to be successfully contained by a computer security company, thanks to a “kill switch” that was built into the worm’s code.
7. Zotob
Zotob was a worm that exploited a buffer overflow in the Windows Plug and Play service in August 2005. It was designed to spread quickly and to allow remote access to infected computers. Zotob was used in a number of high-profile attacks, including on The New York Times, CNN, and ABC News.
8. Storm
Storm was a malware campaign that used a number of different viruses, worms, and Trojans to infect computers in early 2007. It used botnets for propagation and was notable for being one of the first malware campaigns to use social engineering to trick users into installing the malware. Storm was responsible for a number of high-profile infections, including of government agencies in the US, UK, and Canada.
9. Conficker
Conficker was a worm that spread rapidly via network shares in November 2008. It used a number of different methods to spread, including propagating through unpatched vulnerabilities and via removable drives. Conficker was notable for its use of Domain Name System (DNS) cache poisoning to spread, as well as for its use of a peer-to-peer network to communicate with infected computers.
10. Stuxnet
Stuxnet was a computer worm that was first discovered in June 2010. It was designed to attack industrial control systems, and it is believed to have been responsible for damaging a number of nuclear centrifuges in Iran. Stuxnet is notable for being the first malware to successfully target industrial systems, and for its use of zero-day vulnerabilities and digital signatures to spread.
11. Duqu
Duqu was a computer worm that was discovered in September 2011. It was designed to gather intelligence data and was similar in many ways to the Stuxnet worm. Duqu is believed to have been created by the same team that developed Stuxnet, and it is thought to be part of a wider cyber-espionage campaign.
12. Flame
Flame was a computer worm that was discovered in May 2012. It was designed for cyber-espionage and was capable of stealing a wide range of data, including screenshots,keys, documents, and even audio recordings. Flame is notable for its sophistication, and for the fact that it went undetected for over two years.
13. Gauss
Gauss was a computer worm that was discovered in July 2012. It was designed for cyber-espionage and was used to collect information about victims, including banking details and logins. Gauss is notable for its use of a modular design, which allowed it to be easily customized for different targets.
14. Red October
Red October was a computer virus that was discovered in October 2012. It was designed for cyber-espionage and was used to steal a wide range of data, including emails, documents, and even audio recordings. Red October is notable for its use of encryption to evade detection, and for the fact that it went undetected for over five years.
15. CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker was a ransomware virus that was discovered in September 2013. It encrypted victims’ files and demanded a ransom for the decryption key. CryptoLocker was notable for its use of encryption, and for the fact that it was the first ransomware virus to use a Bitcoin payment system.
16. Gameover Zeus
Gameover Zeus was a computer virus that was discovered in May 2014. It was designed to steal banking details and other sensitive information. Gameover Zeus is notable for its use of a peer-to-peer network to spread, and for its ability to evadClick here for more
The most dangerous video viruses
and the best ways to remove them
The most dangerous video viruses and the best ways to remove them
Viruses come in all shapes and sizes, and some are more dangerous than others. When it comes to video viruses, there are a few that stand out as being particularly dangerous and difficult to remove. Here are some of the most dangerous video viruses and the best ways to remove them.
1. The Kryptik Virus
The Kryptik virus is a particularly dangerous video virus that encrypts files on your computer, making them inaccessible. In order to decrypt the files, you need a special key, which is usually only available from the creator of the virus. This can make it very difficult to remove the virus and get your files back.
2. The CIH Virus
The CIH virus, also known as the Chernobyl virus, is a dangerous virus that can damage your computer’s BIOS. This can render your computer unusable, and it can be difficult to remove. In some cases, the only way to remove the virus is to replace the BIOS chip on your motherboard.
3. The nasty Zeus Virus
The Zeus virus is a dangerous virus that can steal your personal information, such as your passwords and credit card numbers. It can also be used to take control of your computer and use it to launch attacks on other computers. Zeus is a particularly difficult virus to remove, and it is best to use a specialized tool to remove it.
4. The ever-changing Conficker Virus
The Conficker virus is a virus that has been around for many years and has constantly changed to avoid detection. It is a very difficult virus to remove, and it can cause a lot of damage to your computer. In some cases, the only way to remove the virus is to reformat your hard drive and start from scratch.
5. The devastating Sality Virus
The Sality virus is a dangerous virus that can disable your antivirus software and give attackers access to your computer. It can also corrupt your files and make them difficult to use. In some cases, the only way to remove the virus is to delete the infected files and reinstall your operating system.
These are just a few of the most dangerous video viruses out there. There are many more, and new ones are created all the time. The best way to protect yourself from these viruses is to install a good antivirus program and keep it up to date. Antivirus software can help to remove these viruses and protect your computer from future infections.
We used malwarezero.org to write this article about most dangerous pc viruses. Extra resources.
