Web Viruses: The Worst To Watch Out For

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

Central Command, a provider of anti-virus software and computer security services, released its monthly listing of the top twelve viruses reported for April, 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 table below represents the most prevalent viruses for April 2002, number one being the most frequent.

Ranking Virus Name and Percentage

1. Worm/Klez.E (includes G variant) – 79.2%

2. W32/Elkern.C – 11.8%

3. Worm/W32.Sircam – 2.3%

4. W32/Nimda – 1.3%

5. Worm/Badtrans.B – 1.1%

6. W32/Magistr.B – 1.0%

7. W95/Hybris – 0.6%

8. Worm/MyLife.J – 0.5%

9. W32/Magistr.A – 0.4%

10. Worm/MyLife.F – 0.3%

11. W95/MTX – 0.3%

12. Worm/Gibe – 0.2%

Others 1.0%

“Worm/Klez.G was definitely the problem child this month”, said Steven Sundermeier, product manager at Central Command. “Combined with W32/Elkern.C, a file infecting virus dropped when the Worm/Klez.G variant is started, they accounted for an unprecedented 91% of the total virus infection reports for the month. Additionally, confirmed infection reports for April were 6% higher than that of February and March combined.”