Basic Computer Viruses

-infected thousands of computers very fast by sending copies of itself to 50 names in the address book on Outlook e-mail

Led to an estimated $80 million in damage and record sales of anti-virus products.

2000: "I Love You" virus

-was sent by email and infected 10 % of computers in only one day

-created by a young Filipino computer student who did not get punished because then the Philippines had no laws against hacking which led to the European Union's global Cybercrime Treaty.

2001: "Nimda" virus (days after 9/11)

-had 5 ways of infecting systems

2004

• 2004
• MyDoom spreads through emails and file-sharing software faster than any previous virus or worm.
• Allows hackers to access the hard drive of the infected computer.
• An estimated one million computers running Windows are affected by the fast-spreading Sasser computer worm.
• The worm does not cause irreparable harm to computers or data, but it does slow computers and cause some to quit or reboot without explanation.
• 2006
• Discovery of the first-ever malware trojan horse for Mac OS X
• 2008
• Torpig is a Trojan horse which affects Windows, turning off anti-virus applications.
• It allows others to access the computer, modifies data, steals confidential information and installs malware on the victim's computer.
• 2009
• Conficker infects anywhere from 9 to 15 million Microsoft server systems.
• French air force, Royal Navy warships and submarines, Sheffield Hospital network, UK Ministry of Defence, German Bundeswehr and Norwegian Police were all affected.