Below we have provided what we believe to be the top computer virus that have occurred each year from 2015 to 2019.

2015 Top Computer Viruses

1. BASHLITE malware leads to a massive spike in Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. This virus also had other names such as Gafgyt, Lizkebab, Qbot and Torius and Lizard Stresser and infected Linux systems in order to launch a DDoS attack. As most Desktop computers were either Microsoft Windows or Apple computers this software did not represent an immediate problem. The problem was with the Worlds servers in large business, server farms, Government servers, Telco servers etc. A large majority of these computers run some form of Linux with their being generally 3 different categories or flavours with these categories being: Security- Focused; User-Focused and Unique. However, within these three categories, there are many dozens of different versions.
2. Another Linux only virus was Linux.Wifatch. This attempted to secure devices form malware. It’s primary mode of infection was/is to log into devices using weak or default telnet credentials. Once infected Linux.Wifatch disables telnet access and gives a message to the effect that Telnet has been disabled. Not a common type virus as it’s used to actually stop more virulent malware.

2016 Top Computer Viruses

1. MEMZ – a Trojan is released in January which basically destroys your computer and when rebooted the message reads: “Your computer has been trashed by the MEMZ Trojan. Now enjoy the Nyan cat…”
2. Locky – Ransomware with over 60 derivatives infecting millions of computers throughout Europe and further afield released in February.
3. Tiny Banker Trojan (Tinba). This Trojan infected banking computers around the World in February also, with more than two dozen major institutions in the USA affected. As any “Trojan” would do it created a “spoof page” that looked and functioned as the “real page” therefor fooling the bank’s users into providing their login information which is used to capture their credentials sending them to its host.
4. Mirai launches powerful and disruptive DDoS attacks in September by infecting the “Internet of Things”. Several high profile websites such as GitHub, Twitter, Reddit, Netflix, Airbnb are affected.

2017 Top Computer Viruses

1. Wannacry ransomware attack spreads globally from May onwards. A kill-switch was discovered shortly after the attacks started which effectively halted its spread. This relief was short lived as the next day new variants emerged which had no “kill-switch” to deactivate it.
2. Petya – malware in June of 2017 spreads globally affecting Windows computers. This virus was very similar to WannaCry.
3. In September Remote Access Trojan (RAT) – kediRAT is discovered in a Spear Phishing attack. This attack centred on Cytrix users and communicated with its control centre using Gmail.

2018 Top Computer Viruses

1. February saw the Thanatos ransomware which was the first to accept payment in Bitcoin Cash.
2. In November of that year Titanium, a very advanced and insidious backdoor malware was discovered. This was known as an APT – Advanced Persistent Threat which is a stealthy computer network threat, typically from a Nation-state which gains access to a computer network and remains undetected for an extended period. This malware was attributed to a group known as “Platinum” which is a Microsoft term for a cybercrime collective based in South/South East Asia, targeting Governments and related entities. This group has been active since 2009. In April 2016 it was reported that this group abused Microsoft Windows “hot patching system” and was then here they were detected.

2020 March Computer Viruses

1. Coronavirus fears are being used by Hackers to send you a computer virus. Researchers at IBM and Kaspersky have discovered spam emails being sent in the hopes of infecting smartphones and computers with malicious software. Once the email is opened – with titles such as “learn more about Coronavirus and its respiratory issues” the malicious software harvests personal data and can cause malware programs to gain access to your files thereby copying them. Presently the attack is centred on Japan but will no doubt spread elsewhere.
2. There is a rising tide of Mac (Apple) threats hitting computers around the World and recently Malwarebytes has found that from 2018 to 2019 there was a 400% increase on Mac attacks. An average of 11 threats per Mac versus an average of 5.8 on Windows. Conclusion: Mac attacks are increasing exponentially.

What To Be Aware Of In 2020

• Always exercise caution when opening messages or emails.
• Don’t answer suspicious telephone calls and if you do hang up immediately you realise it’s a scam. Don’t discuss, swear, argue etc, just hang up.
• Don’t download attachments that you didn’t ask for or which look suspicious.
• Install only “official updates” from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft
• Hackers will always be on the front foot so to speak and are ready to exploit the latest “thing”, NBN, Bushfires, Coronavirus etc.
• Put a virus protection software package on your Apple Mac before it’s too late.

If you do pick up a computer virus, we offer an affordable and extremely thorough malware removal service here at Affordable Computer Repairs and Service in Brisbane.