The most destructive computer viruses
in history
Computers have come a long way since their inception in the late 1940s. Today, they are an integral part of our lives, both at work and at home. viruses are a type of malware that can wreak havoc on our computer systems, causing everything from minor annoyances to complete system failure.
While there are many different types of viruses, some are more destructive than others. Here is a look at 10 of the most destructive computer viruses in history.
1. The Code Red Virus
One of the most destructive computer viruses in history is the Code Red virus. This virus was first discovered in July 2001 and quickly spread across the internet, infecting over 400,000 computers in just a few days.
The Code Red virus took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s IIS web server software to spread itself. Once a computer was infected, the virus would place a copy of itself on any web page that the computer attempted to access. This allowed the virus to spread quickly and infect even more computers.
In addition to its rapid spread, the Code Red virus was also destructive. It caused computers to crash and restart randomly and also defaced web pages with the message “Hacked By Chinese!”.
The Code Red virus caused an estimated $2.6 billion in damage and was eventually stopped by a software patch from Microsoft.
2. The ILOVEYOU Virus
The ILOVEYOU virus is another destructive virus that caused billions of dollars in damage. This virus was first discovered in 2000 and quickly spread around the world, infecting an estimated 10% of all computers.
The ILOVEYOU virus was spread through email attachments. The email would contain the text “I love you” in the subject line and would look like it came from a friend or family member. Once opened, the attachment would unleash the virus, which would then send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.
In addition to spreading itself, the ILOVEYOU virus would also delete important files and programs from infected computers. This caused many computers to crash, rendering them useless.
The ILOVEYOU virus caused an estimated $10 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses of all time.
3. The Melissa Virus
The Melissa virus is another destructive email-based virus that caused significant damage when it was first released in 1999.
The Melissa virus was spread through email attachments, much like the ILOVEYOU virus. The email would contain the text “Here is that document you asked for” in the subject line and would look like it came from a legitimate source. However, once opened, the attachment would unleash the virus.
The Melissa virus would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book. In addition, the virus would also disable certain anti-virus software and open up the victim’s computer to other attacks.
The Melissa virus caused an estimated $80 million in damage and resulted in the arrest of its creator, David L. Smith.
4. The Sasser Virus
The Sasser virus was first discovered in 2004 and quickly spread to computers around the world. This virus took advantage of a flaw in the Windows operating system to spread itself and infect computers.
The Sasser virus would cause infected computers to crash and restart randomly. This would often render the computer unusable and cause significant frustration for users.
In addition to its destructive nature, the Sasser virus was also unique in that it did not require any user interaction to spread. This meant that the virus could spread quickly and infect a large number of computers in a short period of time.
The Sasser virus caused an estimated $18 billion in damage and resulted in the arrest of its creator, Sven Jaschan.
5. The Storm Worm
The Storm Worm is a type of malicious software that first surfaced in 2006. This worm took advantage of the way that email programs handle attachments to spread itself.
The Storm Worm would arrive in an email with the subject “230 dead as storm batters Europe”. The email would contain an attachment that, when opened, would unleash the worm.
Once unleashed, the Storm Worm would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book. In addition, the worm would also disable certain security features on the infected computer, leaving it vulnerable to other attacks.
The Storm Worm was unique in that it was able to spread itself without the need for user interaction. This meant that the worm could infect a large number of computers in a short period of time.
The Storm Worm caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer worms in history.
6. The MyDoom Virus
The MyDoom virus is another destructive email-based virus that caused significant damage when it was first released in 2004.
The MyDoom virus was spread through email attachments, much like the ILOVEYOU virus. The email would contain the text “Here is that file you asked for” in the subject line and would look like it came from a legitimate source. However, once opened, the attachment would unleash the virus.
The MyDoom virus would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book. In addition, the virus would also disable certain security features on the infected computer and open up the victim’s computer to other attacks.
The MyDoom virus caused an estimated $38 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses of all time.
7. The Conficker Virus
The Conficker virus is a type of malicious software that first surfaced in 2008. This virus took advantage of a flaw in the Windows operating system to spread itself and infect computers.
The Conficker virus would cause infected computers to crash and restart randomly. This would often render the computer unusable and cause significant frustration for users.
In addition to its destructive nature, the Conficker virus was also unique in that it did not require any user interaction to spread. This meant that the virus could spread quickly and infect a large number of computers in a short period of time.
The Conficker virus caused an estimated $9.1 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses in history.
8. The Stuxnet Virus
The Stuxnet virus is a type of malicious software that was first discovered in 2010. This virus was specifically designed to target industrial control systems, such as those used in nuclear facilities.
The Stuxnet virus would infect computers and then proceed to spread itself to other computers on the same network. Once a computer was infected, the virus would take control of the industrial control system and cause it to malfunction.
This could cause the system to overheat or shut down completely, resulting in serious damage. In some cases, the Stuxnet virus was even responsible for physical damage to equipment.
The Stuxnet virus is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses in history and is estimated to have caused $10 billion in damage.
9. The CryptoLocker Virus
The CryptoLocker virus is a type of malicious software that first surfaced in 2013. This virus takes advantage of a flaw in the way that email attachments are handled to spread itself.
The CryptoLocker virus would arrive in an email with the subject “Please open the attached file to view your invoice”. The email would look like it came from a legitimate source, such as a company or organization that the user does business with.
However, once opened, the attachment would unleash the virus. The virus would then proceed to encrypt the user’s files, making them inaccessible. The user would then be asked to pay a ransom to have their files decrypted.
If the ransom was not paid, the files would remain encrypted and inaccessible. The CryptoLocker virus caused an estimated $1 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses of all time.
10. The WannaCry Virus
The WannaCry virus is a type of malicious software that first surfaced in 2017. This virus takes advantage of a flaw in the Windows operating system to spread itself and infect computers.
The WannaCry virus would cause infected computers to crash and display a message demanding a ransom be paid in order to have the computer unlocked. If the ransom was not paid, the files on the computer would remain encrypted and inaccessible.
The WannaCry virus caused an estimated $4 billion in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses in history.Full Article
The most common dangerous viruses
in the world
There are many dangerous viruses in the world, but some are more common than others. Here are four of the most common dangerous viruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, which can eventually lead to AIDS. AIDS is a debilitating and often deadly disease that has no cure. According to the CDC, there are approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV in the United States, and about 40,000 new infections each year.
2. influenza
Influenza, or “the flu,” is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It can be mild or severe, and sometimes leads to death, particularly in young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. According to the CDC, there are approximately 5-20% of the US population gets the flu each year, and about 200,000 people are hospitalized because of it.
3. Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a virus that attacks the liver and can cause serious liver damage, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the CDC, there are an estimated 3.2 million people in the United States living with hepatitis C, and about 75% of those people are unaware they have it.
4. West Nile Virus
West Nile Virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause severe fever, brain damage, and even death. According to the CDC, there have been more than 47,000 cases of West Nile Virus in the United States since 1999, and about 1,800 people have died from it.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about what was the most dangerous computer virus. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.