All malware is inherently dangerous, but there are a few threats that stand out amongst the others when it comes to inflicting damage. We took a look at some of the most destructive malware of all time from traditional viruses, worms and Trojans to increasingly prevalent PUAs such as adware and spyware. This list, while covering most of the all-time worst threats, is not all- inclusive. For example, notable threats are not on this list such as the ILOVEYOU bug, although they also rank as highly destructive. How many of these threats do you remember?
1. CIH Virus - 1998
The CIH virus, also known as the "Chernobyl virus", was named after the explosion of the nuclear plant in Russia because it was written to execute on the anniversary of the explosion. The virus worked by wiping data from the hard drives of infected devices and overwriting the BIOS chip within the computer, which rendered the device unusable. BIOS chips, originally manufactured by IBM for PCs, are a type of firmware used when a device is booted or turned on. This virus caused tremendous damage because the BIOS chip was not removable on many PCs, requiring the user to replace the entire motherboard. The virus was created by a student at the Taipei Tatung Institute of Technology, named Chen Ing Hau. Although the virus caused millions of dollars in damages, Chen was never imprisoned or fined and actually got a job at a software company through his resulting infamous creation.
Full story. Most Destructive Malware of All Time
1. CIH Virus - 1998
The CIH virus, also known as the "Chernobyl virus", was named after the explosion of the nuclear plant in Russia because it was written to execute on the anniversary of the explosion. The virus worked by wiping data from the hard drives of infected devices and overwriting the BIOS chip within the computer, which rendered the device unusable. BIOS chips, originally manufactured by IBM for PCs, are a type of firmware used when a device is booted or turned on. This virus caused tremendous damage because the BIOS chip was not removable on many PCs, requiring the user to replace the entire motherboard. The virus was created by a student at the Taipei Tatung Institute of Technology, named Chen Ing Hau. Although the virus caused millions of dollars in damages, Chen was never imprisoned or fined and actually got a job at a software company through his resulting infamous creation.
Full story. Most Destructive Malware of All Time
