Top 12 – Viruses for March 2002

Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com

Central Command, a provider of PC anti-virus software and computer security services released its monthly listing of the top twelve viruses reported for March, 2002. The report, coined the “Dirty Dozen,” is based on the number of virus occurrences confirmed through Central Command’s Emergency Virus Response Team.

The list below represents the most prevalent viruses for March 2002, number one being the most frequent.

Ranking Virus Name
1. W32/Klez.E
2. Worm/W32.Sircam

3. Worm/Badtrans.B

4. W32/Nimda
5. W32/Funlove

6. Worm/FBound.C
7. W32/Magistr.B
8. W32/Nimda.E
9. W95/Hybris

10. W32/Magistr.A
11. Worm/Lentin
12. Worm/Gibe

Others 14.0%

The fine line between what’s real and what’s fake became increasingly blurred this month as a Microsoft’s Security Update was nearly mimicked to a tee by the Internet worm Worm/Gibe. Worm/Gibe, a new comer to the Dirty Dozen, is an Internet worm that poses as a legitimate Internet Security Update from Microsoft.

Also new and tempting users in March were Worm/FBound.C, a multilingual Internet worm using both English and Japanese to trick users and Worm/MyLife.B, a mass-mailing worm appearing as a caricature of former President Bill Clinton.