By: Owen Jone
New computer viruses are being generated, exposed and disabled every day. These computer viruses are created often just to annoy us and to wreak chaos in our computer systems. Hereunder, I have described ten viruses currently cited as being the most widespread and being potentially able to cause the most harm. However, new viruses are being developed daily, so this list is by no means complete. The only thing you can do is stay vigilant, keep your anti-virus software updated, and stay aware of the current computer virus threats.
Virus: Trojan.Lodear:
A Trojan (from Trojan Horse) that tries to download files from a remote source. It will introduce a .dll file into the EXPLORER.EXE process causing system instability.
Virus: W32.Beagle.CO@mm:
A mass-mailing worm that reduces security settings. It can delete security-related registry sub keys and may block access to security-related websites.
Virus: Backdoor.Zagaban:
A Trojan that permits the compromised computer to be operated as a covert proxy and which may decrease network performance.
Virus: W32/Netsky-P:
A mass-mailing worm which spreads by emailing itself to addresses produced from files on the local drives.
Virus: W32/Mytob-GH:
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan for the Windows platform. Messages sent by this worm will have the subject chosen randomly from a list including titles such as: Notice of account limitation, Email Account Suspension, Security measures, Members Support, Important Notification.
Virus: W32/Mytob-EX:
A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan similar in nature to W32-Mytob-GH. W32/Mytob- EX runs continuously in the background, providing a backdoor server which allows a distant intruder to gain access and control over your computer via IRC channels. This virus propagates by sending itself to email attachments gleaned from your email address book.
Virus: W32/Mytob-AS, Mytob-BE, Mytob-C, and Mytob-ER:
This family of worm variations has similar characteristics in terms of what they can do. They are mass-mailing worms with backdoor functionality that can be manipulated through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. Additionally, they can spread themselves by email and by various operating system weaknesses such as the LSASS (MS04-011).
Virus: Zafi-D:
A mass-mailing worm and a peer-to-peer worm which replicates itself to the Windows system folder with the filename Norton Update.exe. It can then generate a number of files in the Windows system folder with filenames made up of 8 random characters and a DLL extension. W32/Zafi-D replicates itself to folders with names containing words like ’share’, ‘upload’, or ‘music’ as ‘ICQ 2005a new!.exe’ or ‘winamp 5.7 new!.exe’. W32/Zafi-D will also show a fake error message box with the caption “CRC: 04F6Bh” and the text “Error in packed file!”.
Virus: W32/Netsky-D:
A mass-mailing worm with IRC backdoor functionality which can also infect computers vulnerable to the LSASS (MS04-011) exploit.
Virus: W32/Zafi-B:
A peer-to-peer (P2P) and email worm that will reproduce itself to the Windows system folder as a randomly named EXE file. This worm will check for the presence of an Internet connection by trying to connect to google.com or microsoft.com. A bilingual, worm with an attached Hungarian political text message box which translates to “We demand that the government accommodates the homeless, tightens up the penal code and VOTES FOR THE DEATH PENALTY to cut down the increasing crime. Jun. 2004, Pécs (SNAF Team)”
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the network antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software