The top 20 most dangerous PC viruses
Of the many different types of computer viruses in existence, the following 20 have been identified as the most dangerous. Each of these viruses has the potential to cause serious harm to your computer, and in some cases, can even lead to destruction of your system.
1. ILOVEYOU
This virus, which originated in the Philippines, quickly spread around the world and caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. It infected over 50 million computers and displayed a message that said “I love you” when opened. The message would then proceed to ask the user to open an attached file, which would then infect their computer with the virus.
2. Code Red
This virus many have caused as much as $2 billion in damage and infected over 350,000 computers within just 24 hours of its release. Code Red took advantage of a known security flaw in Microsoft’s IIS web server software and would display a message on infected computers that read “Hacked By Chinese!”
3. Nimda
Nimda caused an estimated $500 million in damage and is noteworthy for being one of the most widespread viruses in history. It is estimated to have infected over 5.5 million computers in just 22 minutes. The virus took advantage of various security flaws and spread itself through email, open networks, and even posted itself on websites.
4. Melissa
Melissa caused an estimated $80 million in damage and is notable for being one of the first viruses to spread itself through email. It would replicate itself by send itself out to the first 50 contacts in a victim’s Microsoft Outlook address book. The email would have the subject “Important Message From [name]” and would contain a password-protected attachment. When opened, the virus would infect the computer and begin replicating itself.
5. SQL Slammer
SQL Slammer caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and was notable for its extremely fast spread. The virus took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s SQL Server software and quickly propagated itself across the Internet. It caused widespread problems, particularly for banks and other businesses that rely on SQL Server for their operations.
6. SoBig
SoBig caused an estimated $37.1 million in damage and is notable for its use of social engineering to spread itself. The virus would send itself out in email with a subject line that would entice users to open the attachment, such as “Important Message From [name]” or “Your Details”. Once opened, the virus would infect the computer and start replicating itself.
7. MyDoom
MyDoom caused an estimated $38.5 billion in damage and is notable for being the fastest spreading email worm in history. It infected over 1 million computers within the first 24 hours of its release and used a wide variety of tactics to spread itself, including email attachments, peer-to-peer file sharing, and even IRC.
8. CIH
CIH, also known as Chernobyl, caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and is notable for its destructive payload. The virus would infect a computer’s BIOS and when triggered, would overwrite the first megabyte of the hard drive, rendering it unusable. It also had the ability to infect executables, making it difficult to remove even if the hard drive was wiped clean.
9. WannaCry
WannaCry was a ransomware worm that caused an estimated $4 billion in damage and is notable for its wide-scale impact. The virus spread rapidly across the globe, infecting over 230,000 computers in 150 countries. It took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system and encrypted victims’ files, demanding a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
10. Storm Worm
Storm Worm was a worm that caused an estimated $820 million in damage and is notable for its use of social engineering to spread itself. The virus would send out emails with a subject line that would entice users to open the attachment, such as ” 230 dead as storm rages through Europe” or “U.S. government warns of more terrorist attacks”. Once opened, the virus would infect the computer and start replicating itself.
11. Conficker
Conficker caused an estimated $9 billion in damage and is notable for its ability to spread without user interaction. The virus would infect computers through a security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system and then proceed to disable security software and block access to security websites. It would then download and run malicious code, which could be used to steal sensitive information or create a botnet.
12. Zeus
Zeus was a trojan horse that caused an estimated $100 million in damage and is notable for its use in identity theft and fraud. The virus would infect computers and then proceed to steal sensitive information, such as banking details and login credentials. It could then be used to commit identity theft or fraud.
13. Sality
Sality was a virus that caused an estimated $50 million in damage and is notable for its ability to infect executable files. The virus would infect computers and then spread itself by infecting executable files on any connected drives. It would then download and run malicious code, which could be used to steal sensitive information or create a botnet.
14. Stuxnet
Stuxnet was a worm that caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and is notable for being the first known malware to target industrial control systems. The virus was designed to attack the Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz and cause the centrifuges to fail. It is believed to have been created by the United States and Israel.
15. Cryptolocker
Cryptolocker was a ransomware virus that caused an estimated $625 million in damage and is notable for its use of encryption to render files unusable. The virus would infect computers and then encrypt files, making them inaccessible unless a ransom was paid. It also had the ability to spread itself through email attachments and network shares.
16. WannaCry 2.0
WannaCry 2.0 was a ransomware worm that caused an estimated $1.1 billion in damage and is notable for its wide-scale impact. The virus spread rapidly across the globe, infecting over 230,000 computers in 150 countries. It took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system and encrypted victims’ files, demanding a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
17. Petya
Petya was a ransomware virus that caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and is notable for its destructive payload. The virus would encrypt a computer’s hard drive, making it unusable. It would then display a message that demanded a ransom be paid in order to decrypt the files. Petya would also spread itself through email attachments and network shares.
18. NotPetya
NotPetya was a ransomware virus that caused an estimated $10 billion in damage and is notable for its destructive payload. The virus would encrypt a computer’s hard drive, making it unusable. It would then display a message that demanded a ransom be paid in order to decrypt the files. NotPetya would also spread itself through email attachments and network shares.
19. Locky
Locky was a ransomware virus that caused an estimated $209 million in damage and is notable for its use of encryption to render files unusable. The virus would infect computers and then encrypt files, making them inaccessible unless a ransom was paid. It would also spread itself through email attachments, which would appear to be benign documents but were actually malware.
20. Cerber
Cerber was a ransomware virus that caused an estimated $209 million in damage and is notable for its use of encryption to render files unusable. The virus would infect computers and then encrypt files, making them inaccessible unless a ransom was paid. It would also spread itself through email attachments, which would appear to be benign documents but were actually malware.Visit Site
The 20 most common PC viruses
Computers have become a way of life for many people. We use them for everything from work to play. They are a part of our everyday lives. Unfortunately, as common as they are, so are viruses. They can come from many different sources and do many different things, but they all have one thing in common: they can cause a lot of damage to your computer.
The most common PC viruses come from email attachments, removable media, and websites. Email attachments are the most common because they are the easiest to open and can be done without any suspicion. All it takes is for someone to send you an email with an attachment that contains a virus and, when you open it, the virus is unleashed onto your computer.
Removable media, such as USB drives, are also common sources of viruses. This is because they can be used on multiple computers and can easily transfer viruses from one computer to another. Websites are another common source of viruses. When you visit a website, you can unknowingly download and install a virus onto your computer.
The damage that viruses can cause varies. Some viruses are designed to simply annoy you, while others can cause your computer to crash or delete all of your files. The most serious viruses can even allow someone to take control of your computer and use it to do things like send spam emails or launch attacks on other computers.
There are many different types of viruses, but here are 20 of the most common:
1. backdoor
2. Boot virus
3. Browser hijacker
4. Denial-of-service attack (DoS)
5. Drive-by download
6. False positives
7. File sharing
8. Identity theft
9. Malicious attachment
10. Malicious websites
11. Phishing
12. Pork barrel politics
13. Pump and dump
14. Ransomware
15. Social engineering
16. Spyware
17. Trojan horse
18. Virus
19. Worm
20. Zero-day exploit
1. Backdoor
A backdoor is a type of virus that gives an attacker access to your computer. Once the attacker has access, they can do anything they want, including installing other malware, stealing your data, or using your computer to launch attacks on other computers.
2. Boot virus
A boot virus is a virus that infects the boot sector of your computer. The boot sector is the part of your hard drive that contains the code that starts up your computer. A boot virus can make it impossible for your computer to start up, which can be very annoying.
3. Browser hijacker
A browser hijacker is a type of virus that redirects your web browser to a website that is not the one you intended to visit. This can be very annoying, and can also be used to trick you into visiting a malicious website that can infect your computer with other malware.
4. Denial-of-service attack (DoS)
A denial-of-service attack is when a attacker flooded a system with so much traffic that it can no longer function properly. This can be very damaging, as it can make it impossible for people to use the system.
5. Drive-by download
A drive-by download is when you download and install a piece of software without realizing it. This can happen when you visit a website that has been compromised by an attacker. The attacker can add code to the website that will automatically download and install a piece of malware onto your computer.
6. False positives
False positives are when a security program identifies a piece of software as being malware when it is actually safe. This can be very annoying, and can also lead to you accidentally deleting a safe file.
7. File sharing
File sharing is when you share files with other people over the internet. This can be done using a file sharing program, such as BitTorrent. While there are many legitimate uses for file sharing, it can also be used to distribute malware.
8. Identity theft
Identity theft is when someone steals your personal information, such as your name, address, Social Security number, or credit card number. This information can then be used to open new accounts in your name, or to make purchases in your name. This can be very damaging, and can take a long time to recover from.
9. Malicious attachment
A malicious attachment is a file that is attached to an email that contains a virus. When you open the attachment, the virus is unleashed onto your computer. This can be very dangerous, as it can allow the attacker to take control of your computer.
10. Malicious websites
A malicious website is a website that has been created for the purpose of infecting your computer with malware. This can happen when you visit the website, or if you accidentally click on a malicious ad that is on the website.
11. Phishing
Phishing is when someone tries to trick you into giving them your personal information, such as your password or credit card number. This is usually done by sending you an email that looks like it is from a legitimate website or company. When you click on the link in the email, you are taken to a fake website that looks real. Once you enter your information, the attacker now has it.
12. Pork barrel politics
Pork barrel politics is when a politician gives money to a project in their district in order to get votes. This is often done with no regard for the project actually being a good use of taxpayer money.
13. Pump and dump
Pump and dump is when someone buys a stock, promotes it heavily, and then sells it at a higher price. This can be done using false information, such as claiming a company is doing better than it actually is. This can be very damaging, as it can cause people to lose a lot of money.
14. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of virus that encrypts your files and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. This can be very damaging, as you can lose access to all of your important files.
15. Social engineering
Social engineering is when someone uses deception to trick you into giving them information or doing something. This can be done over the phone, in person, or over the internet. An example of social engineering would be someone pretending to be from your bank and asking you for your bank account number.
16. Spyware
Spyware is a type of malware that is installed on your computer without your knowledge. It is used to track your internet usage and can also be used to steal your personal information.
17. Trojan horse
A Trojan horse is a type of virus that is disguised as a harmless program. When you run the program, the virus is unleashed onto your computer. This can be very dangerous, as it can allow the attacker to take control of your computer.
18. Virus
A virus is a type of malware that can copy itself and infect your computer. Viruses can be very difficult to remove, and can cause a lot of damage to your computer.
19. Worm
A worm is a type of malware that can spread itself to other computers. Worms can be very difficult to remove, and can cause a lot of damage to your computer.
20. Zero-day exploit
A zero-day exploit is a type of virus that takes advantage of a security flaw in your software. These exploits can be used to install other malware, or to take control of your computer.
All material on this site was made with malwarezero.org as the authority reference. Reference.