Common Computer Viruses

You must be aware of what is a virus. Yes, it is a biological entity, that infects a host and begins to replicate itself using the host cell organelles. It tends to multiply manifold and leads to different types of viral diseases. Similarly, a virus can infect your computer, replicate itself and cause functional problems in your system. Do you know what is a computer virus? A computer virus is not a biological entity, but a malicious software. These computer viruses are potentially harmful and cause loss of important data and corrupt your computer files. There are many common computer viruses that have created an epidemic in the virtual world. Let us have a look at some of the most common computer virus list in the following paragraphs.

Common Computer Virus List

There are different types of computer viruses that infect your PC. They are small software programs that tend to spread from one computer to another computer. They spread by attaching themselves in e-mails, instant messages, floppy disk or pen drives, etc. These viruses tend to corrupt your data or even delete your important files. Anything and everything present on your hard disk can be erased by a nasty computer virus. These computer viruses are very smart. They tend to visit you disguised as a greeting card, audio file, video file and even appear as a funny face.

When you are trying to download a software or music file from the Internet, these computer viruses hide themselves in illicit files, programs and software and get downloaded on your personal computer (PC). So, when you run a program file or boot sector program at boot time, the virus gets activated. The program infected by the virus gets modified and begins to run the viral code. Soon, the virus takes control of your PC and begins to replicate and spread. They damage your files, and begin to delete programs and folders in your computer. Some viruses are time activated, like they will activate themselves every 13th Friday or on a specified date and begin creating havoc on your computer. Some of the common computer viruses that infect your system are as follows:

Resident Viruses: This virus tends to locate itself in the RAM and corrupt all files that are opened, closed, copied, etc.

Direct Action Viruses: These viruses replicate and infect files when executed. It is usually located in the root directory of the hard disk like AUTOEXCEC.BAT file PATH.

Multipartite Viruses: These common computer viruses move through boot sector infecting executable files on the hard drive and then throughout the system.

Macro Viruses: These viruses infect files using programs or applications containing macros.

Overwrite Viruses: These viruses delete the information in files and thus making them partially or completely useless.

Boot Virus: The virus that infects a floppy or hard disk boot sector.

Logic Bombs: Generally, they are not considered to be viruses. They do not replicate and destroy data when launched.

These were some of the common computer viruses types. There are a few more common computer viruses types as follows:

• Directory Virus
• Polymorphic Virus
• File Infectors
• Encrypted Viruses
• Companion Viruses
• Network Virus
• Nonresident Viruses
• Stealth Viruses
• Sparse Infectors
• Spacefiller (Cavity) Viruses
• FAT Virus
• WormsTrojans or Trojan Horses
• Encrypted Viruses
• Time Delay Viruses
• Secret Viruses
• Anti-Virus Virus
• Multi-Headed Virus
• Misdirection Virus
• Cloning Virus
• Revisiting Viruses
• Companion Virus
• Phage Viruses
• Armored Viruses
• Retro Viruses

Common Computer Viruses Names

Computer viruses have led to a loss of over $10 billion to many companies as well as private users. The following list contains common computer viruses names that have infected and caused considerable damage to PC's and systems around the world:

• W32/Zafi-D
• W32/Netsky-D
• W32/Zafi-B
• Trojan.Lodear
• W32.Beagle.CO@mm
• Backdoor.Zagaban
• W32/Netsky-PW
• 32/Mytob-GH
• EXW32 Mytob
• W32/Mytob-AS
• W32/Mytob-BE
• W32/Mytob-C
• W32/Mytob-ER
• Stator, Asimov.1539, and Terrax.1069
• Elkern, Marburg, Satan Bug, and Tuareg
• Relax
• Melissa.A
• Bablas
• O97M/Y2K
• Polyboot.B, AntiEXE
• Way
• Trj.Reboot
• Trivial.88.D
• Randex
• CMJ
• Meve
• MrKlunky
• CIH
• I Love You Worm
• KAK
• PSWBugbear.B (worm)
• Lovgate.F (worm)
• Trile.C (worm)
• Sobig.D (worm)
• Mapson (worm)
• AnnaKournikova.jpg.vbs
• CAP
• Resume
• NYB
• Stoned Empire Monkey Virus

Common Computer Viruses

The year is coming to an end, there were a few common computer viruses that have created havoc in lives of computer users this year too. The following is a list of common computer viruses have proven to be dangerous to the life of the computer:

• Exploit-CVE2010-0814
• Exploit-CVE2010-2568
• Mal/Krap-I
• Mal/VB-LP
• Ms .NET JIT 3228
• Ms IE HO RCE 2746
• Ms Wind New Cl 3223
• Ms Wind TLSv1 3229
• Ms WindOTFont 2741
• MSFT Win SMB Val Vuln
• MSIL/Terdial.D
• Stuxnet
• Troj/Agent-PAP
• Troj/Agent-PAQ
• Troj/BredoZp-BH
• Troj/Cosmu-K
• Troj/FakeAV-BVP
• Troj/FakeAV-BVQ
• Troj/Mdrop-CZQ
• W32/AutoRun-BJS
• W32/Autorun.worm.q
• W32/VBMania@MM
• Exploit-CVE2010-0814
• Exploit-CVE2010-2568

These were some of the common computer viruses you should watch out for. It is extremely important that you keep your antivirus software updated. Do not operate your computer, especially if you have Internet enabled computer without having one of the best antivirus software installed.

This was all about computer viruses and worms. You should always install applications only from reputed sources. Open mails only from trusted friends and acquaintances. If you have any doubt regarding the origin or content of the mail, delete it immediately without opening it. Click on links only after you verify them. Notice the link address at the bottom of your browser before clicking it. And most importantly, you need to clear cookies and cache of your web browser regularly. There are many antivirus software safeguard your PC from the invasion of common computer viruses. Hope the above information has helped you learn a bit of information about the computer viruses that are not good for the health of your PC.