TOP 8 DEADLIEST COMPUTER VIRUSES IN HISTORY (TIME LINE)

Since the appearance of the first computers for the home, we have had to face the threat of the most dangerous computer viruses. Therefore, understanding how they work and which are the most dangerous is the first step to reduce the cyber risk that devices must constantly face.

The first computer virus is believed to have appeared in 1972 and was called Creeper. Also, along with that first virus, the first antivirus, called Reaper, was also designed. Computer viruses became more complex, and over time they became more risky for the proper functioning of computers and dangerous for the privacy of user data.

What are the main types of most dangerous computer viruses?

Although it is difficult to make a strict classification, because there are many types of viruses, here are some of the most common types.

TIMELINE

1.Morris 🐛 - 1988

On the other hand, Morris worm is one of the oldest viruses on the list. It appeared in 1988 and caused losses of more than 90 million dollars.

2. Chernóbil - 1998

Finalmente, Chernobyl se creó en 1998 y afectó especialmente a los sistemas Windows 95 y 98, formateando su disco duro y borrando la información de los usuarios.

3. Melissa  - 1999

Melissa first appeared in 1999, a virus that tricked the user into an email that, when opened, was forwarded to the first 50 contacts.

4. I Love You - 2000

In the 2000s, the ILoveYou Trojan was one of the most important in history. It infected more than 50 million users in a single week and was also transmitted via email.

5. SQL Slammer - 2003

Created in 2003, SQL Slammer managed to slow down Internet traffic. Computers infected with this virus sent IPs to other computers that had some kind of vulnerability in their protection system.

6. Blaster

In 2003, Blaster appeared, a virus that affected, for example, Windows XP and 2000 systems, causing them to constantly restart and causing a message to appear.

 

                                                                   

7. Mydoom - 2004

Appeared in 2004, this malware was created in Russia. It is believed to have been one of the fastest and most effective viruses in history. On infected computers, the notepad was opened with a text that was then sent to the user's contacts.

8. WannaCry - 2017

One of the most recent on the list, the WannaCry ransomware originated in the year 2017 and affected large companies. Infected computers had their data encrypted and then a $300 ransom demanded.

It is best to install an antivirus, although we must know that the system itself has mechanisms to protect itself. This is the case of Windows Defender or Windows Security. There are also other free antiviruses such as Avast or Kaspersky.

They may seem like simple programs, but they are very effective at destroying Trojans, worms, or spyware. Of course, you have to be aware of new updates.