FreeCex

What are some of the most dangerous computer viruses ever created?
created in the beginning of the article

As our computers become more essential to us in both our personal and professional lives, it’s no surprise that malicious individuals are finding new ways to exploit them for their own gain. As technology advances, so do the techniques used by cybercriminals.

In May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack infected more than 230,000 computers in over 150 countries and caused estimated damages of over $4 billion. The outbreak was stopped when a security researcher found and activated a kill switch.

Although WannaCry was devastating, it’s not the only computer virus out there. Here are some of the most dangerous computer viruses ever created.

1. ILOVEYOU

ILOVEYOU is a computer worm that infected over 50 million computers in 2000. The worm was spread through email attachments that appeared to be love letters. Once opened, the attachment would release the worm which would then send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.

The worm would also overwrite important files on the infected computer, making it difficult to recover any data. In total, ILOVEYOU is estimated to have caused $5.5 billion in damages.

2. Melissa

Melissa was a computer worm that spread through email attachments in 1999. The worm would infect a computer and then use the victim’s email account to send itself to the first 50 people in their address book.

The email would contain a message that said “here is that document you asked for” along with a password to open the attachment. Once opened, the worm would replicate itself and spread to the victim’s entire address book.

3. Code Red

Code Red was a computer worm that primarily infected web servers in 2001. The worm would exploit a known vulnerability in Microsoft’s IIS web server software and then create a backdoor, allowing the attacker to gain remote access to the server.

Once the worm infected a server, it would scan for other vulnerable servers and infect them as well. Code Red is estimated to have infected over 359,000 systems and caused over $2.6 billion in damages.

4. SQL Slammer

SQL Slammer was a computer worm that exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft’s SQL Server software in 2003. The worm would spread itself by flooding port 1434/udp with random data.

Once a system was infected, the worm would cause the server to crash and restart continuously, making it unavailable. The worm caused widespread outages, affecting banks, airports, and other critical infrastructure.

5. Conficker

Conficker is a computer worm that was first seen in 2008. The worm spreading by exploiting vulnerabilities in Windows operating systems. Once a system was infected, the worm would disable security features and download and run malicious code.

The worm was also able to spread by infecting any removable drives that were connected to the infected system. Conficker is estimated to have infected over 9 million systems and is still active today.

As you can see, there are a variety of different computer viruses out there that can cause serious damage. It’s important to have a good antivirus program installed on your computer and to keep it up-to-date. You should also be careful about clicking on email attachments and only download files from trusted sources.

What computer viruses have caused the most damage?

There are many computer viruses that have caused a great deal of damage, but there are a few that stand out above the rest. Here are the three most dangerous computer viruses ever:

1. The Melissa Virus

The Melissa virus was released in 1999 and quickly spread around the world, causing billions of dollars in damage. The virus was spread via email, with infected attachments that would infect a user’s computer when opened. The virus would then replicate itself and send out more infected emails to the user’s contacts.

The Melissa virus caused so much damage because it spread so quickly and easily. It was estimated that as many as one in five computers were infected with the virus at its peak. The virus also disrupted many businesses and organizations, as it caused computers to crash and become unusable.

2. The ILOVEYOU Virus

The ILOVEYOU virus was released in 2000 and, like the Melissa virus, quickly spread around the world. The virus was spread via email, with infected attachments that would infect a user’s computer when opened. The virus would then replicate itself and send out more infected emails to the user’s contacts.

The ILOVEYOU virus was even more damaging than the Melissa virus because it not only caused computers to crash, but it also encrypted files and stole personal information. The virus is estimated to have caused billions of dollars in damage and is considered one of the most destructive computer viruses of all time.

3. The Storm Worm

The Storm Worm was first released in 2007 and is still active today. The virus is spread via email, with infected attachments that would infect a user’s computer when opened. The virus would then replicate itself and send out more infected emails to the user’s contacts.

The Storm Worm is still active today because it is constantly evolving and changing, making it difficult for security researchers to keep up. The virus has caused billions of dollars in damage and is still considered a major threat.

What are the top 10 most dangerous computer viruses ever?

There are countless computer viruses that have caused serious damage over the years, but these 10 are considered to be the most dangerous of all time.

1. ILOVEYOU

This virus, also known as LoveLetter, hit computers in 2000 and quickly spread around the world, causing an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. The virus was spread via email, with users tricked into opening attachments that would then infect their system. Once infected, the virus would send itself out to all the victim’s contacts.

2. MyDoom

This virus, which was first seen in 2004, is estimated to have caused $38 billion in damage. It was spread in a similar way to ILOVEYOU, via email attachments. MyDoom also gave the attacker control of the infected computer, allowing them to use it to launch denial of service attacks against websites.

3. Code Red

This virus appeared in 2001 and quickly spread, infecting over 359,000 computers in just 14 hours. The virus caused widespread damage, with estimates suggesting it cost around $2 billion to clean up. Code Red also allowed attackers to take control of infected computers and use them to launch denial of service attacks.

4. Nimda

This virus appeared shortly after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and is estimated to have caused $800 million in damage. It spread quickly, with reports of infected emails being sent just minutes after the virus was released. Nimda also allowed attackers to take control of infected computers, making it particularly dangerous.

5. SQL Slammer

SQL Slammer was a virus that hit in 2003 and took advantage of a vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server. It spread quickly, infecting tens of thousands of computers in just 10 minutes. Although it didn’t cause any direct damage, the virus caused widespread disruption as it caused systems to slow down or crash.

6. Storm Worm

Storm Worm first appeared in 2007 and has been responsible for a number of different attacks over the years. It is a particularly dangerous virus as it is constantly evolving, making it hard to protect against. Storm Worm is also notable for being the first virus to use social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to spread.

7. Conficker

Conficker is a virus that first appeared in 2008 and is still active today. It is estimated to have infected over 10 million computers and caused $9 billion in damage. The virus is particularly difficult to remove and can still cause serious problems even on modern systems.

8. Stuxnet

Stuxnet is a virus that was specifically designed to target industrial control systems. It was first seen in 2010 and is thought to have been created by a nation state. The virus was used to target Iranian nuclear facilities and caused serious damage to the country’s nuclear program.

9. WannaCry

This virus hit in 2017 and caused widespread disruption, with over 200,000 computers in 150 countries being infected. The virus took advantage of a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows and encrypted victims’ files, demanding a ransom to decrypt them. WannaCry also caused a number of hospitals to lose access to critical patient data.

10. NotPetya

NotPetya is a virus that appeared in 2017 and is considered to be one of the most destructive malware attacks ever. It caused an estimated $10 billion in damage and affected organizations in over 60 countries. The virus was spread via email attachments and encrypted victims’ files, making them unusable.

What is the most expensive computer virus ever?
and

The most expensive computer virus ever is the Mydoom virus. Mydoom first appeared in 2004 and caused over $38 billion in damage. It was spread through email attachments and was used to launch Denial of Service attacks against websites. Mydoom was so destructive that it was named the most destructive virus of all time by the Guinness World Records.

What makes a computer virus so dangerous?

There are many things that make a computer virus so dangerous. One of the most dangerous things about a virus is that it can spread very quickly and easily. A virus can spread from one computer to another through email, social networking sites, and even by just using a USB drive. Once a virus is on a computer, it can start to infect other files and programs, and even delete important files. A virus can also change the way a computer works, and make it run slowly.

Some viruses are designed to steal personal information, such as credit card numbers and passwords. This can lead to identity theft, which is when someone uses your personal information to commit fraud.

Viruses can also be used to damage or delete important files on a computer. This can include files that are needed to run certain programs, or even the entire hard drive. This can make a computer unusable, and can even lead to data loss.

The best way to protect your computer from a virus is to install an antivirus program, and to keep it up to date. You should also scan your computer regularly for viruses, and be careful about what emails and files you open.

Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about most dangerous computer virus ever. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference when writting this blog post.