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In summary, computer viruses are a type of malicious program
capable of transmitting itself from one machine to the next.
There is also a classification for similiary behaving malware called the worm.
Unlike viruses, worms do not need a "host" machine in order to spread.
Below, I have included a table with some of the most well-known viruses and worms.
(Sourced from Norton UK, link is at the bottom of this page)
| Virus/Worm Name | Year Seen | Virus/Worm Description |
| ILOVEYOU | 2000 | ILOVEYOU was a malicious Visual Basic Script (.vbs) that
spread itself via email under the guise of being a love letter. Upon activation of the payload, it would corrupt files in directories commonly used for storing personal files in Windows at the time. |
| Code Red (Fun fact: named after Code Red soft drink!) |
2001 | Code Red exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft IIS to
rapidly spread across enterprise web servers. On victim servers, it would display the message "Hacked by Chinese!" It is estimated that Code Red caused billions in damages. |
| MyDoom | 2004 | Created for the primary purpose of gathering machines
to initiate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks on victims. (botnet) According to Norton, MyDoom is still active to this day, racking up an estimated $38 billion in damages. |
| Stuxnet | 2010 | A United States sponsored cyberweapon designed to infiltrate
technology connected to the Iranian nuclear program. Its main method of entry was a USB thumb drive vulnerability. Stuxnet was able to successfully self-destruct centrifuges, resulting in significant setbacks to Iran's nuclear plans. |
There are other destructive viruses/worms, such as WannaCrypt (aka WannaCry).
However, since its main purpose was to extort victims, it is considered
ransomware and featured on that page of my site instead.