What is the most dangerous computer virus ever?
The most dangerous virus ever released was the Melissa virus, which was created in 1999. This virus was able to spread quickly through email attachments and infect a user’s computer. Once infected, the virus would replicate itself and send emails to everyone in the user’s address book. This would cause the virus to spread even further. This virus was eventually stopped by antivirus software, but not before it had caused over $80 million in damage.
What are the most dangerous computer viruses ever?
There are many computer viruses which could be considered the most dangerous depending on individual perspectives and priorities. Some of the most well-known and destructive viruses include:
1. ILOVEYOU
This virus was released in 2000 and quickly spread around the world, causing an estimated $5.5 billion in damage. The virus infected computers by disguising itself as a love letter, tricking users into opening it. Once opened, the virus would send copies of itself to everyone in the victim’s address book and corrupt important files.
2. MyDoom
This virus was released in 2004 and is believed to be the fastest-spreading email virus at the time. It caused an estimated $38 billion in damage and caused major disruptions to email services worldwide. MyDoom would infect a computer and then use it to send emails containing the virus to other people. It also included a “back door” that allowed attackers to access and control the infected computer.
3. Code Red
This virus was released in 2001 and quickly spread, infecting more than 359,000 computers within 10 days. Code Red took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s IIS web server software tospread. Once a computer was infected, it would attempt to infect other computers on the same network. Code Red also launched attacks against certain websites, including the White House website.
4. CryptoLocker
This virus was released in 2013 and uses encryption to hold victims’ files hostage. CryptoLocker infects a computer and then encrypts important files such as documents, photos, and videos. The attackers then demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption key. If the ransom is not paid, the victim will lose access to their files forever.
5. WannaCry
This virus was released in 2017 and quickly spread around the world, causing an estimated $4 billion in damage. WannaCry took advantage of a security flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system to spread. Once a computer was infected, the virus would encrypt important files and demand a ransom to decrypt them. WannaCry also spread to other computers on the same network, making it difficult to contain.
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