“The Mischievous Mac Lover” Tops PandaLabs 'Virus Yearbook 2010'

PandaLabs, which recently discovered over 20 Million new malware strains in 2010, is bidding goodbye to the year with a glance at few of the unique and remarkable viruses that emerged during the past 12 months by launching its 'Virus Yearbook 2010'. According to the report, HellRaiser.A. Virus topped the list of viruses during 2010. This virus is also known as "The Mischievous Mac Lover" because of the fact that it only infects systems that have Mac as the operating system.

Good Samaritan or Bredolab.Y malware followed HellRaiser.A. on the list. It is a silent Trojan that utilizes security flaws to download and install other malware code on to users' machines. Bredolab.Y installs onto the computer through porn websites, spam messages, and suspicious free gaming and movie downloading websites.

Next, in the line is MSNWorm.IE. This can also be termed as the 'Linguist of the Year' because it was developed by malware writers in 18 different languages. This malicious software links to a website that downloads updates of itself or to send information regarding the system. It circulates through e-mail messages and instant messaging programs in messages that enclose a hyperlink to a malware ridden website.

Interestingly, the malicious software that has been titled as "Most Audacious" is Stuxnet. Stuxnet is a family of multi-element malicious software that circulates through removable drives. To propagate, Win32/Stuxnet exploits a flaw fixed with the release of Microsoft Security Bulletin MS10-046. This malicious software is proficient of installing other elements, injecting code into presently-running processes, and facilitating backdoor access and control to the compromised system.

Besides, Oscarbot.YQ is on the list. This is also known as "The Most Annoying" malware. This malware keeps on displaying irritating messages in the Internet Explorer browser for the purpose of advertising and promotion, so that netizens browse through websites that promote variant pay services. It propagates through instant messaging programs such as, Yahoo! Messenger and Skype. Oscarbot.YQ has been titled as the most annoying malware of 2010.

Next on the malware list is Clippo.A malware. This is basically a worm that replicates itself as PICTURE.EXE and SOUND.EXE to all folders on the computer along with the removable drives or network shares, where it is permitted to write.

Furthermore, beside the abovementioned, "A Victim of the Crisis" malware is Ransom.AB, and has been tagged as "The Most Economical" malware or SecurityEssentials2010, which is a bogus complement to the official and original Microsoft anti-virus program.

Related article: “Loopholes did not cause online banking thefts”: ICBC

» SPAMfighter News - 12/31/2010