most dangerous computer virus ever
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The most dangerous computer virus ever: the story of the MyDoom virus
In January 2004, a new computer virus began spreading across the internet. Named “MyDoom” by the security research community, it quickly became the most widespread and destructive virus ever seen. MyDoom caused billions of dollars in damage and wreaked havoc on businesses and individuals around the world.
The MyDoom virus was a so-called “mass-mailing” worm, meaning it spread itself by automatically sending emails containing a copy of the virus to everyone in the victim’s address book. Once a computer was infected, the virus would use the victim’s email account to send out more infected emails, and the cycle would continue.
The MyDoom virus was first spotted on January 26, 2004, by a security researcher who goes by the name of “Fizzer.” Fizzer was looking through his email when he noticed a strange message with an attached file. The message claimed to be from a friend, but the attached file was clearly a virus. Fizzer quickly realized that he had received one of the first MyDoom emails.
Within days, the MyDoom virus was spreading rapidly around the world. The virus took advantage of a flaw in Microsoft’s Outlook email program to spread itself automatically. As more and more people received infected emails and unwittingly forwarded them to their own contacts, the virus spread like wildfire.
By February 1, just one week after the virus was first spotted, it was responsible for 10% of all emails being sent across the internet. The disaster was only just beginning.
On February 4, the MyDoom virus reached its peak, sending out over 20 million infected emails in a single day. At its height, the virus was responsible for around 40% of all emails being sent.
The MyDoom virus caused billions of dollars in damage, making it the most destructive computer virus ever seen. The virus hit businesses particularly hard, with many companies forced to shut down their email servers to prevent the virus from spreading.
The virus also had a major impact on individual users. Many people found that their computers were running slow and their email accounts were filling up with junk mail. In some cases, people even had to pay to have their computers cleaned up by a professional.
The MyDoom virus was eventually brought under control by security researchers and antivirus companies. However, it took months to clean up the mess left by the virus, and the damage it caused is still felt today. Full Article
The most dangerous computer virus ever: the story of the Sasser virus
It was early morning on Sunday, May 1, 2004 when the first reports of a new and lethal computer virus began circulating on the Internet. The virus, which would come to be known as Sasser, had first surfaced the day before, unleashing a worldwide outbreak that would eventually infect more than half a million computers in just a matter of days.
Sasser was unlike any other virus that had come before it. Unlike most viruses, which are typically spread by email or through infected websites, Sasser was a self-replicating worm that could spread automatically, without any user interaction, simply by taking advantage of a vulnerability in the Windows operating system.
Once a computer was infected with Sasser, the virus would attempt to spread to any other vulnerable computers on the same network, or to any computers that had been previously infected with Sasser. This meant that the virus could spread incredibly quickly, often infecting thousands of computers in a matter of hours.
Even more alarming was the fact that Sasser didn’t just cause annoyance or inconvenience like most viruses. Sasser was a true destructive force, capable of completely shutting down an infected computer. And because the virus could spread so quickly and easily, there was a very real possibility that it could cause widespread havoc on a global scale.
Fortunately, Sasser was eventually contained and brought under control. But the damage had already been done. The virus caused an estimated $18 billion in damages and expenses, making it one of the most costly viruses of all time. And the lessons learned from Sasser would prove invaluable in the years to come, as the Internet became increasingly central to our lives and our livelihoods.
The origins of Sasser can be traced back to a 17-year-old German student named Sven Jaschan. In early 2004, Jaschan was responsible for creating and releasing two other viruses, NetSky and Mydoom, which were both relatively minor threats.
Jaschan was quickly apprehended by authorities and confessed to his crimes. He was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation. However, Jaschan was not content to stop there. While on probation, he created and released Sasser into the wild.
The reasons for Jaschan’s actions are unknown, but it’s possible that he was simply addicted to the attention and notoriety that came with being a famous virus author. Whatever his motivations, there’s no denying that Jaschan’s actions had serious consequences.
Sasser was first discovered on Saturday, April 30, 2004. Within 24 hours, the virus had already caused massive disruption around the world. Banks in Japan were forced to close their ATMs, while hospitals in the UK were forced to cancel surgeries and appointments.
The quick spread of Sasser was due to the fact that the virus didn’t require any user interaction to spread. Once a computer was infected, the virus would automatically scan for vulnerable computers on the same network and attempt to infect them.
The virus would then attempt to spread to any other vulnerable computers that it could find on the Internet. This meant that the virus could spread incredibly quickly, often infecting thousands of computers in just a few hours.
Even more alarming was the fact that Sasser didn’t just cause annoyance or inconvenience like most viruses. Sasser was a true destructive force, capable of completely shutting down an infected computer. And because the virus could spread so quickly and easily, there was a very real possibility that it could cause widespread havoc on a global scale.
Fortunately, Sasser was eventually contained and brought under control. But the damage had already been done. The virus caused an estimated $18 billion in damages and expenses, making it one of the most costly viruses of all time.
And the lessons learned from Sasser would prove invaluable in the years to come, as the Internet became increasingly central to our lives and our livelihoods.
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