A computer virus is a malware attached to another program (such as a document), which can replicate and spread after an initial execution on a target system where human interaction is required. Many viruses are harmful and can destroy data, slow down system resources, and log keystrokes. Let’s take a look at some of the deadliest ones yet.
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ILOVEYOU
The ILOVEYOU virus sometimes referred to as the Love Bug or Love Letter for you, is a computer worm that infected over ten million Windows personal computers on and after 4 May 2000 when it started spreading as an email message with the subject line “ILOVEYOU” and the attachment “LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.txt.vbs”. It originated in Manila, the Philippines. It resulted in the loss of every JPEG, MP3 and text file in the computer. It badly affected the Ford Motor Company and their email had to be shut down.
2. MyDoom
Mydoom is also known as W32.MyDoom@mm, Novarg, Mimail.R and Shimgapi, is a computer worm affecting Microsoft Windows. It was first sighted on January 26, 2004. The worm contains the text message “andy; I’m just doing my job, nothing personal, sorry,” leading many to believe that the worm’s creator was paid. Early on, several security firms expressed their belief that the worm originated from a programmer in Russia. The actual author of the worm is unknown.
3. Code Red
Code Red was a computer worm observed on the Internet on July 15, 2001. It attacked computers running Microsoft’s IIS web server. It was the first large scale, mixed threat attack to successfully target enterprise networks. They named it “Code Red” because Code Red Mountain Dew was what they were drinking at the time. It contains the text string “Hacked by Chinese!”, which is displayed on web pages that the worm defaces.
4. SQL Scammer
SQL Slammer is a 2003 computer worm that caused a denial of service on some Internet hosts and dramatically slowed general Internet traffic. It spread rapidly, infecting most of its 75,000 victims within ten minutes. The slowdown was caused by the collapse of numerous routers under the burden of extremely high bombardment traffic from infected servers.
5. Anna Kournikova
Anna Kournikova was a computer worm that spread on the Internet worldwide. It was devised by a 20-year-old Dutch student Jan de Wit – who called himself “OnTheFly” – on 11 February 2001. It was designed to trick email users into clicking to open a mail message file appearing to provide an image of the professional tennis player of the same name, while actually hiding a malicious program.
