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The 20 most dangerous PC viruses

As the world increasingly moves online, so do the threats to our information and devices. Cybersecurity is more important than ever before, and that includes protecting ourselves from malicious software, or malware.

Malware comes in many forms, from ransomware that can hijack your files to spyware that can theft your personal information. But which malicious programs are the most dangerous?

Here are the 20 most dangerous malware programs currently doing the rounds, and what you can do to protect yourself from them.

1. WannaCry

WannaCry was one of the most virulent malware programs of 2017, and for good reason. This ransomware program took advantage of a Windows vulnerability to spread quickly and encrypt victims’ files, demanding a ransom be paid in Bitcoin in order to regain access.

What made WannaCry so dangerous was its ability to spread quickly and easily, making it a serious threat to both individuals and businesses. Fortunately, a security researcher was able to create a kill switch that helped to stop the spread of the malware.

Still, WannaCry was estimated to have caused over $4 billion in damages, making it one of the most costly malware programs in history.

2. NotPetya

NotPetya is another ransomware program that caused a lot of damage in 2017. This malware was first seen in the wild in June of that year, and used a similar technique to WannaCry to spread quickly and encrypt victims’ files.

However, NotPetya was much more destructive than WannaCry, as it was designed to destroy victims’ data rather than just encrypt it. This made it much harder (if not impossible) to recover files after paying the ransom.

NotPetya is believed to have caused over $10 billion in damages, making it the most costly malware program in history.

3. Emotet

Emotet is a malware program that first appeared in 2014, and has since evolved into one of the most sophisticated and dangerous malware programs currently in circulation.

Emotet is primarily a banking Trojan, designed to steal victims’ financial information. However, it can also be used to deliver other malware, such as ransomware, making it a very dangerous program.

Emotet is difficult to remove, and is constantly being updated by its creators, making it a serious threat.

4. Zeus

Zeus is a banking Trojan that first appeared in 2007, and is still in circulation today. Zeus is a particularly dangerous malware program, as it is very difficult to detect and remove.

Zeus is primarily used to steal victims’ banking information, but can also be used to steal other sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.

5. Cryptowall

Cryptowall is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2014, and has since become one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Cryptowall uses sophisticated encryption tolock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Cryptowall is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

6. Locky

Locky is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Locky uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Locky is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

7. Cerber

Cerber is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Cerber uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Cerber is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

8. Samsam

Samsam is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2015, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Samsam uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Samsam is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

9. Petya

Petya is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Petya uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Petya is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

10. Jigsaw

Jigsaw is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Jigsaw uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Jigsaw is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

11. Spora

Spora is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Spora uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Spora is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

12. TeslaCrypt

TeslaCrypt is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2015, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

TeslaCrypt uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. TeslaCrypt is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

13. CryptoLocker

CryptoLocker is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2013, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

CryptoLocker uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. CryptoLocker is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

14. KeRanger

KeRanger is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

KeRanger uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. KeRanger is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

15. Dharma

Dharma is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Dharma uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Dharma is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

16. Hermes

Hermes is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Hermes uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Hermes is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

17. PolyRansom

PolyRansom is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

PolyRansom uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. PolyRansom is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

18. CrySIS

CrySIS is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

CrySIS uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. CrySIS is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

19. Fabian

Fabian is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Fabian uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Fabian is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

20. Bart

Bart is a ransomware program that first appeared in 2016, and quickly became one of the most common and damaging ransomware programs in circulation.

Bart uses sophisticated encryption to lock victims’ files, and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Bart is particularly difficult to remove, and often results in victims’ files being permanently encrypted.

These are the 20 most dangerous malware programs currently doing the rounds. Cybersecurity is more important than ever before, so make sure you have a good security solution in place to protect yourself from these and other threats.Learn more

The 20 most destructive PC viruses

We have all been there. That sick feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize your computer has been infected with a virus. These malicious little programs can wreak havoc on your system, destroying files, stealing important information, or even rendering your PC unusable.

While there are thousands of different viruses out there, some are more destructive than others. Here are the 20 most destructive PC viruses of all time.

1. ILOVEYOU

This virus, which struck in 2000, was spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book. The email looked like it was coming from a loved one, which is how it got its name.

ILOVEYOU caused an estimated $5.5 billion in damage and is considered one of the most costly computer viruses of all time.

2. Melissa

Named after a stripper in Florida, Melissa was a virus that also spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would replicate itself and send itself to the first 50 people in the victim’s address book.

Melissa was responsible for shutting down email servers at major companies like Microsoft, Intel, and AT&T. It caused an estimated $80 million in damage.

3. Code Red

Code Red was a worm that targeted Microsoft’s IIS web server software. It spread quickly, infecting over 359,000 systems within 14 hours of its release.

Once a system was infected, the worm would replicate itself and launch a Denial of Service attack against the White House website. Code Red was responsible for an estimated $2 billion in damage.

4. Nimda

Nimda was a virus that spread via email, network shares, and open ports. It was responsible for infection over 6 million systems within 24 hours of its release.

Nimda caused an estimated $860 million in damage and is considered one of the most widespread computer viruses of all time.

5. Slammer

Slammer was a worm that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s SQL Server software. It was able to spread quickly, infecting 75,000 systems within 10 minutes of its release.

Slammer caused disruptions to banking, airline, and hospital systems. It was responsible for an estimated $1.2 billion in damage.

6. SQL Slammer

SQL Slammer was a worm that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s SQL Server software. It was able to spread quickly, infecting 75,000 systems within 10 minutes of its release.

Slammer caused disruptions to banking, airline, and hospital systems. It was responsible for an estimated $1.2 billion in damage.

7. Blaster

Blaster was a virus that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s WindowsXP operating system. Once a system was infected, the virus would display a message on the screen that read “I’m back and I’m not going away!”

Blaster was responsible for an estimated $10 billion in damage.

8. SoBig

SoBig was a virus that spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.

SoBig was responsible for causing disruptions to email systems at companies like NASA, Intel, and Microsoft. It caused an estimated $37 billion in damage.

9. MyDoom

MyDoom was a virus that spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.

MyDoom was responsible for causing disruptions to email systems at companies like Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. It caused an estimated $38 billion in damage.

10. Sasser

Sasser was a virus that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s WindowsXP operating system. Once a system was infected, the virus would display a message on the screen that read “I’m back and I’m not going away!”

Sasser was responsible for causing disruptions to banks, airports, and hospitals. It was responsible for an estimated $18 billion in damage.

11. WannaCry

WannaCry was a virus that exploited a flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Once a system was infected, the virus would encrypt files and demand a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.

WannaCry was responsible for causing disruptions to hospitals, banks, and businesses. It caused an estimated $4 billion in damage.

12. NotPetya

NotPetya was a virus that spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.

NotPetya was responsible for causing disruptions to email systems at companies like Merck, Maersk, and WPP. It caused an estimated $10 billion in damage.

13. Conficker

Conficker was a virus that spread via network shares and open ports. It was able to infect over 10 million systems.

Conficker was responsible for causing disruptions to banks, government agencies, and businesses. It was responsible for an estimated $9 billion in damage.

14. Zeus

Zeus was a virus that spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would replicate itself and send itself to everyone in the victim’s address book.

Zeus was responsible for causing disruptions to email systems at companies like Symantec, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. It caused an estimated $13 billion in damage.

15. CryptoLocker

CryptoLocker was a virus that spread via email attachment. Once opened, the attachment would encrypt files and demand a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.

CryptoLocker was responsible for causing disruptions to businesses and individuals. It caused an estimated $3 billion in damage.

16. Stuxnet

Stuxnet was a virus that was designed to target industrial control systems. It was specifically designed to target uranium enrichment facilities.

Stuxnet was responsible for causing disruptions to Iran’s nuclear program. It is estimated to have caused $2 billion in damage.

17. Flame

Flame was a virus that was designed to target industrial control systems. It was specifically designed to target uranium enrichment facilities.

Flame was responsible for causing disruptions to Iran’s nuclear program. It is estimated to have caused $2 billion in damage.

18. Duqu

Duqu was a virus that was designed to target industrial control systems. It was specifically designed to target uranium enrichment facilities.

Duqu was responsible for causing disruptions to Iran’s nuclear program. It is estimated to have caused $2 billion in damage.

19. Airwolf

Airwolf was a virus that was designed to target industrial control systems. It was specifically designed to target uranium enrichment facilities.

Airwolf was responsible for causing disruptions to Iran’s nuclear program. It is estimated to have caused $2 billion in damage.

20. DarkSeoul

DarkSeoul was a virus that was designed to target industrial control systems. It was specifically designed to target uranium enrichment facilities.

DarkSeoul was responsible for causing disruptions to South Korea’s banking system. It caused an estimated $1 billion in damage.

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