What is the most deadly computer virus in the world?
There are currently around 215,000 known computer viruses, and new ones are being created all the time. Of these, a small number have caused widespread damage and resulted in huge financial losses. Here is a list of the 10 most damaging viruses of all time.
1. ILOVEYOU
Also known as the Love Bug, this email-borne virus wreaked havoc in 2000, infecting an estimated 10% of all computers connected to the internet at the time. It spread quickly by emailing itself to everyone in the victim’s address book and also created a backdoor on infected computers, allowing the attackers to steal sensitive information. The ILOVEYOU virus caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damages.
2. Code Red
This self-replicating worm hit the internet in 2001 and quickly infected over 359,000 computers running Microsoft’s IIS web server software. It caused widespread damage by defacing websites with the message “Hacked By Chinese!” and launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against the White House and other high-profile targets. Code Red caused an estimated $2 billion in damages.
3. Nimda
Dubbed “the internet plague”, this virus spread rapidly just hours after it was released in 2001. It used a variety of mechanisms to infect computers, including email attachments, open network shares, and the backdoors left behind by Code Red. Nimda was responsible for an estimated $645 million in damages.
4. Blaster
This virus, also known as Lovsan, appeared in 2003 and quickly spread via email and the MSN Messenger service. It caused infected computers to launch DDoS attacks against a number of high-profile targets, including the White House website. Blaster was responsible for an estimated $320 million in damages.
5. SoBig
This virus first appeared in 2003 and quickly became the most widespread email virus of all time. It spread via email attachments and infected an estimated 50 million computers. SoBig was responsible for an estimated $37 billion in damages.
6. Mydoom
This virus, also known as Doomjuice, first appeared in 2004 and quickly spread via email attachments. It was unusual in that it also allowed remote access to infected computers, allowing attackers to use them to launch DDoS attacks or send spam emails. Mydoom was responsible for an estimated $38 billion in damages.
7. Conficker
This worm first appeared in 2008 and quickly spread to an estimated 9 million computers. It caused widespread damage by crippling infected computers and using them to launch DDoS attacks. Conficker was responsible for an estimated $9 billion in damages.
8. Stuxnet
This malware was first discovered in 2010 and is believed to have been created by the US and Israeli governments to damage Iran’s nuclear program. It is the first known malware that was specifically designed to damage industrial equipment. Stuxnet was responsible for an estimated $1 billion in damages.
9. CryptoLocker
This ransomware first appeared in 2013 and quickly spread via email attachments and malicious websites. It encrypted the files on infected computers and demanded a ransom for the decryption key. CryptoLocker was responsible for an estimated $3 billion in damages.
10. WannaCry
This ransomware hit the headlines in 2017 when it spread rapidly across the globe, infecting an estimated 230,000 computers in 150 countries. It used a flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system to spread and encrypted the files on infected computers. WannaCry was responsible for an estimated $4 billion in damages.
What are some of the most effective methods for preventing computer viruses?
There is no surefire way to prevent computer viruses, but there are steps you can take to make your device less vulnerable. Keep your software up to date, especially your operating system and web browser. Use strong passwords, and don’t reuse them on different sites. Install a good antivirus program, and run regular scans. Be careful about what you download and install, especially if you’re not familiar with the source. Be cautious about opening email attachments, even if you know the sender. Backup your important files regularly, so you can restore them if your system is compromised.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about most deadly computer virus. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.