The Top 10 most dangerous computer viruses of 2020
There are many computer viruses that can cause great harm to your computer, and some of them are more dangerous than others. In this article, we will take a look at 10 of the most dangerous computer viruses of 2020.
1. WannaCry
WannaCry is a ransomware virus that was first discovered in May of 2017. This virus spreads by exploiting a vulnerability in the Windows operating system. Once it infects a computer, it encrypts all of the user’s files and demands a ransom in order to decrypt them. WannaCry has caused a great deal of damage since it was first released, and it is estimated that it has infected more than 200,000 computers in 150 countries.
2. NotPetya
NotPetya is another ransomware virus that was first discovered in June of 2017. This virus also exploits a vulnerability in the Windows operating system in order to spread. Once it infects a computer, it encrypts the user’s files and demands a ransom in order to decrypt them. NotPetya is believed to be responsible for causing more than $10 billion in damage to businesses around the world, and it is considered to be one of the most destructive viruses ever created.
3. Mirai
Mirai is a virus that specifically targets internet of things devices, such as routers and security cameras. This virus spreads by brute force guessing the login credentials of these devices. Once it has gained access to a device, it can use that device to launch attacks on other devices or networks. Mirai was used in a massive distributed denial of service attack against the website of journalist Brian Krebs in 2016, and it is believed to be responsible for taking down a number of other websites as well.
4. Locky
Locky is a ransomware virus that was first discovered in February of 2016. This virus spreads via email attachments, and once it infects a computer it will encrypt the user’s files and demand a ransom in order to decrypt them. Locky has been responsible for a number of high-profile attacks, including an attack on the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in 2016 that resulted in the hospital having to pay a $17,000 ransom.
5. CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker is a ransomware virus that was first discovered in September of 2013. This virus spreads via email attachments and infected websites. Once it infects a computer, it will encrypt the user’s files and demand a ransom in order to decrypt them. CryptoLocker has been responsible for a number of high-profile attacks, and it is estimated that it has caused more than $1 billion in damage.
6. Zeus
Zeus is a virus that is used to steal banking information. This virus spreads via email attachments and infected websites. Once it infects a computer, it will collect information such as banking login details and credit card numbers. Zeus has been used in a number of high-profile attacks, and it is estimated that it has caused more than $1 billion in damage.
7. Stuxnet
Stuxnet is a virus that was specifically designed to target industrial control systems. This virus spreads via USB devices and infected websites. Once it infects a computer, it will take over the industrial control system that it is connected to and make changes that could cause severe damage. Stuxnet is believed to be responsible for causing significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program.
8. MyDoom
MyDoom is a virus that was first discovered in January of 2004. This virus spreads via email attachments and infected websites. Once it infects a computer, it will allow the attacker to gain remote access to the victim’s computer. MyDoom is responsible for launching a number of high-profile attacks, including an attack on the SCO Group in 2004 that resulted in the company losing more than $20 million.
9. Blaster
Blaster is a virus that was first discovered in August of 2003. This virus spreads via email attachments and infected websites. Once it infects a computer, it will allow the attacker to gain remote access to the victim’s computer. Blaster is responsible for launching a number of high-profile attacks, including an attack on Microsoft’s Windows Update website in 2003 that caused the site to be unavailable for more than 24 hours.
10. Slammer
Slammer is a virus that was first discovered in January of 2003. This virus spreads via a vulnerability in the Microsoft SQL Server. Once it infects a computer, it will allow the attacker to gain remote access to the victim’s computer. Slammer is responsible for launching a number of high-profile attacks, including an attack on the internet that caused more than $1 billion in damage..Published here
The history of the world’s most dangerous computer virus
In the early days of computing, viruses were commonly spread by people exchanging software on floppy disks. As the internet became more popular, viruses began to spread online, often attached to email messages or hiding in websites. Some of the most famous viruses in history have caused billions of dollars in damage and caused havoc for businesses and consumers alike.
The first known computer virus was created in the 1970s by a Pakistani computer scientist named Dr. Farooq Alvi. His virus, which he called the “creeper,” was designed to delete files and spread itself to other computers. The creeper was not particularly harmful, but it was the first virus to be seen in the wild.
In the 1980s, another virus called the “Elk Cloner” became the first to infect Apple computers. This virus was spread by people sharing floppy disks and was designed to display a message on the victim’s screen that read “Elk Cloner: The program with a personality.”
The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of the first mass-mailing viruses, which were able to spread quickly by sending themselves to everyone in the victim’s address book. One of the most famous of these viruses was the “Melissa” virus, which caused more than $80 million in damage when it was released in 1999.
The early 2000s saw the rise of viruses that were designed to steal personal information, such as credit card numbers and passwords. These so-called “Trojan horses” became increasingly common as online banking and shopping became more popular.
One of the most damaging viruses in history was released in 2010. Called “Stuxnet,” this virus was specifically designed to sabotage Iranian nuclear facilities. The virus proved so effective that it is believed to have set back Iran’s nuclear program by several years.
Today, viruses are more common than ever. Most are designed to steal personal information or to hold computer systems hostage until a ransom is paid. However, there are still some viruses that are designed simply for the sake of causing damage. As long as there are computers in the world, there will be viruses.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about most dangerous computer virus. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.