What is the most deadly computer virus and what does it do?
There is no definitive answer to this question as there are new viruses appearing all the time and it is hard to say which is the most deadly. However, some of the most destructive and well-known viruses include the following:
The ILOVEYOU virus was a computer worm that spread rapidly through email attachments in 2000. It caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage and affected more than 50 million people worldwide.
The Melissa virus was a computer worm that spread via email attachments in 1999. It caused an estimated $80 million in damage and affected more than 1.6 million computers.
The Mydoom virus was a computer worm that spread via email attachments and infected an estimated 6 million computers in 2004. It caused an estimated $17 billion in damage.
The SoBig virus was a computer worm that spread via email attachments and infected an estimated 7 million computers in 2003. It caused an estimated $37 billion in damage.
The WannaCry virus was a computer worm that spread rapidly through email attachments in 2017. It caused an estimated $4 billion in damage and affected more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries.
What are the most common computer viruses?
There are many types of computer viruses, but some are more common than others. Here are four of the most common viruses:
1. Conficker
Conficker is a virus that first emerged in 2008. It targets Windows systems and is typically spread through infected USB devices or email attachments. Once a system is infected, the virus can give attackers remote access and allow them to download and run other malicious software.
2. Cryptolocker
Cryptolocker is a type of virus known as ransomware. It encrypts files on an infected system and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Cryptolocker has been spread through email attachments and malicious websites. Once a system is infected, the virus can spread to any connected network drives.
3. WannaCry
WannaCry is a ransomware virus that emerged in 2017. It targets Windows systems and spreads through email attachments or infected websites. Once a system is infected, the virus encrypts files and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
4. Zeus
Zeus is a virus that first emerged in 2007. It targets Windows systems and is typically spread through email attachments or infected websites. Once a system is infected, the virus can allow attackers to remotely access the system and steal sensitive information such as passwords and banking details.
These are four of the most common computer viruses. While there are many other types of viruses, these four are some of the most prevalent. Protecting your system from these and other viruses can be done by using antivirus software and keeping your system up-to-date with the latest security patches.
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