The Top 10 most dangerous computer viruses of 2020
Computers have been a integral part of our lives for over half a century now. In that time, they’ve undergone an incredible transformation. They’ve shrunk in size, they’ve become more powerful, and they’ve become more ubiquitous. Today, there are over three billion computers in use around the world.
With so many computers in use, it’s no surprise that there are also a large number of viruses. In fact, there are an estimated one million different types of computer viruses. These malicious software programs can cause a range of problems, from slowing down your computer to stealing your personal information.
While there are a large number of different viruses out there, some are more dangerous than others. Here is a list of the ten most dangerous computer viruses of 2020.
1. WannaCry
WannaCry is a ransomware virus that was first released in May of 2017. It quickly spread around the world, affecting over 200,000 computers in 150 countries. The virus encrypted files on infected computers and demanded a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
While the WannaCry virus was eventually stopped, it caused a estimated $4 billion in damage. It also highlighted a serious flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system that put millions of users at risk.
2. NotPetya
NotPetya is another ransomware virus that was first released in June of 2017. Like WannaCry, it quickly spread around the world, affecting over 10,000 computers in just a few days. The virus encrypted files on infected computers and demanded a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
However, unlike WannaCry, the encryption used by NotPetya was much more difficult to break. This made it much harder for victims to recover their files, even if they paid the ransom.
NotPetya is estimated to have caused over $1 billion in damage. It also affected a number of high-profile organizations, including the Danish shipping company Maersk and the American drug company Merck.
3. CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker is a ransomware virus that was first released in September of 2013. It infected over 500,000 computers in just a few months. The virus encrypted files on infected computers and demanded a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
CryptoLocker was particularly dangerous because it used a strong form of encryption that was very difficult to break. This meant that even if victims paid the ransom, there was no guarantee that their files would be decrypted.
4. Storm Worm
Storm Worm is a computer virus that was first released in January of 2007. It’s estimated to have infected over 50 million computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it caused infected computers to send out large numbers of spam emails.
The virus also gave attackers remote control of infected computers. They used this control to launch distributed denial of service attacks and to steal personal information.
5. Conficker
Conficker is a computer virus that was first released in November of 2008. It’s estimated to have infected over 10 million computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it caused infected computers to contact a remote server and receive instructions.
These instructions allowed the attackers to control the infected computers and use them for a variety of purposes. These included sending out spam emails, launching denial of service attacks, and stealing personal information.
6. SoBig
SoBig is a computer virus that was first released in August of 2003. It’s estimated to have infected over 1.2 million computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it caused infected computers to send out large numbers of spam emails.
SoBig was particularly damaging because it had the ability to spread quickly and infect a large number of computers. In some cases, a single infected computer was responsible for sending out millions of spam emails.
7. Mydoom
Mydoom is a computer virus that was first released in January of 2004. It’s estimated to have infected over 6 million computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it caused infected computers to send out large numbers of spam emails.
Mydoom was particularly damaging because it had the ability to spread quickly and infect a large number of computers. In some cases, a single infected computer was responsible for sending out millions of spam emails.
8. Sasser
Sasser is a computer virus that was first released in May of 2004. It’s estimated to have infected over 1 million computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it exploited a flaw in the Windows operating system to gain remote access to infected computers.
Once it gained access, the virus installed a program that allowed the attacker to control the infected computer. They used this control to launch denial of service attacks and to steal personal information.
9. Code Red
Code Red is a computer virus that was first released in July of 2001. It’s estimated to have infected over 360,000 computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it exploited a flaw in the Windows operating system to gain remote access to infected computers.
Once it gained access, the virus installed a program that allowed the attacker to control the infected computer. They used this control to launch denial of service attacks.
10.SQL Slammer
SQL Slammer is a computer virus that was first released in January of 2003. It’s estimated to have infected over 75,000 computers. The virus did not encrypt files or demand a ransom. Instead, it exploited a flaw in the Microsoft SQL Server to gain access to computers.
Once it gained access, the virus caused the affected computers to send out large numbers of requests to other computers. This created a denial of service condition that made it difficult for users to access the internet..Reference
How to remove a computer virus
A computer virus is a type of malware that, when executed, replicates by inserting its own code into other computer programs, data files, or the boot sector of the hard drive. When this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be “infected” with a virus. Viruses are often spread by sharing infected files or by infecting a system through unprotected network ports.
Infected computer programs can include both system-level programs that perform critical operations on a computer and user-level programs that people use for tasks such as word processing and playing games. Data files can include anything from a personal document to a critical system file. The boot sector is the area of a hard drive that contains information about how the drive should be booted.
Viruses can be very difficult to remove, and even more difficult to prevent from infecting a computer in the first place. There are, however, a few steps that can be taken to attempt to remove a virus and protect a computer from future infections.
The first step is to identify the virus. This can be difficult, as there are literally thousands of different types of viruses, and new ones are created every day. A good place to start is by running a virus scan with an up-to-date antivirus program. This will at least identify the type of virus, if not the specific strain.
Once the virus has been identified, the next step is to attempt to remove it. This, again, can be difficult, as some viruses are designed to be difficult to remove. The best course of action is to consult a trusted source for removal instructions specific to the virus that has been identified.
If the previous two steps have failed, or are not possible, the next step is to try to contain the virus. This can be done by disconnecting the affected computer from the network, which will prevent the virus from spreading to other computers. It is also important to make sure that any files that have been infected are not accessed or executed by any other computer on the network, as this could spread the virus.
The final step is to attempt to clean the affected files. This can be done with a number of different programs, depending on the type of virus that is present. It is important, again, to consult a trusted source for specific removal instructions.
Once the virus has been removed, it is important to take steps to prevent future infections. This includes installing and maintaining an antivirus program, as well as keeping the operating system and all software up to date. It is also important to be careful about what files are downloaded and executed, as well as what networks are accessed.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about most dangerous computer virus. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.