Computing Trends Brought About by the Worst Computer Viruses

Computer viruses are big business for some virus writers with the collection of keystroke data to get at banking information, shutting down networks, slowing computers, embarrassing users, and sharing private information-the computer trends that responded can be instructive. There are thousands of viruses tracked and caught by antivirus software, many of these products list definitions for the virus and how its identified and removed from your computer.

Advent of the Computer Virus

An article on the history of Malware at VirusList.com points out some of the earliest viruses that attacked computers including Brain in 1986, Lehigh in 1987, and Chameleon in 1990. Brain targeted the boot sector of computers did no damage but spread worldwide, Lehigh spread worldwide and destroyed information on disks, Chameleon was encrypted and changed at every copy.

Response: Creation of Organizations that Targeted Identification, Neutralization and Criminal Charges Against Virus Makers and the Development of AntiVirus Software Programs

EICAR (European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research) was established in Hamburg, Germany , Kaparsky Labs followed. The creation of Norton and the founding companies for Symantec began in 1990.

Computer Viruses that Attacked Email

Wazzu is one of the better know viruses that attached to Office software specifically MS WOrd. Melissa, and LoveLetter are two of the better known early email viruses that are activated when the email is read and then proceeds to read the user's email contact list to launch itself to new customers.

Response: Server Email and Attachment Virus Scan

One of the purposes in having a server is that it offers quick response, so when these viruses came around, it crippled many email servers by having all the emails and attachments scanned as they entered the network as well as at the users workstation. Slow response time and painful restoration of emails affected by viruses contributed to some of the main costs of cleanup.

Response: Disk Swap Out at the Workstation

For users affected by these viruses, it soon became simpler and more cost effective to simply swap out the hard drive preloaded with standard software on the user's workstation rather than attempt to clean up the viruses.

Computer Viruses that Attacked Corporate and Personal Data

According to a Symantec article[2], Sobig, Klez, and most recently Bugbear are the leading viruses that attacked server data, causing network shutdowns, expenses totaling billions for those affected, and putting banking data at risk. Sobig is anothe that attacks emails.

Response: Computing Decision Making About What Assets Are Held Inside and Allowed Outside the Firewall

Many corporations have opted to keep corporate data inside their own private firewall and restrict company users from accessing data and applications outside the firewall and prevent them from using data and applications when not logged into their private network. Additionally, encrypted information like passwords are being augmented to require additional, not generally asked for information and some even use follow up verification on large transactions.

Phishing, Pharming and Adware

These three low-level viruses can be the most painful and annoying for the user community. Phishing attacks individuals by using keystroke capture to break into personal accounts, see Symantecs article on activity. Pharming is the use of an advertisement or other trust worthy site to gain access to a users data and by detecting their private network router information, allowing their computer to be used. Adware is often cookies, executables and other software downloaded to a personal computer that ends up slowing the computer and taking over the computer by displaying awful ads and monitoring activity. [3][4][5]

Response: User Education About the Threats and Software That Helped Identify and Remove them.

Software tools for phishing and adware removal were added on to the list of useful tools to have on your personal computer and many sites like Yahoo offered them for free. Addiitionally, many server owners started virus checking the data going into and out of their mail systems and providing warnings to users about safe sites. User training about what to not access from email or on the internet can save users a great deal of trouble.

[1] http://www.viruslist.com/en/viruses/encyclopedia?chapter=153280684

[2] http://www.symantec.com/region/reg_eu/resources/virus_cost.html

[3] http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/reference/phishing-stats.pdf

[4] http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/reference/Driveby_Pharming.pdf