Question

part b
perform online research and learn about any two computer viruses that have caused tremendous damage to computer
systems. write a brief description of each and discuss the damage they caused.

space used(includes formatting): 0 / 30000

Explanation:

1. ILOVEYOU Virus

• Description: The ILOVEYOU virus (also known as the Love Bug) was a computer worm that spread via email in 2000. It arrived as an email with the subject "ILOVEYOU" and an attachment named "LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs". When the attachment was opened, the virus would overwrite files (especially multimedia and document files), spread to other computers via email contacts, and also infect network shared drives.
• Damage Caused: It caused an estimated $5.5 - $8.7 billion in damages globally. It affected millions of computers, including those in government agencies, businesses, and personal systems. Many organizations had to shut down their email systems temporarily, and data loss was widespread as files were corrupted or deleted. It also disrupted normal business operations, leading to productivity losses.

2. WannaCry Ransomware

• Description: WannaCry is a ransomware worm that emerged in 2017. It exploited a vulnerability (EternalBlue, a Windows SMB vulnerability) in unpatched Windows operating systems. Once it infected a computer, it encrypted files on the system and demanded a ransom (in Bitcoin) to decrypt them. It also spread automatically to other computers on the same network.
• Damage Caused: It affected over 200,000 computers in more than 150 countries. Major organizations like the UK's National Health Service (NHS) were hit hard—hospitals had to cancel appointments, and patient care was disrupted as systems went down. The global economic impact was estimated to be in the billions of dollars, including costs from system recovery, ransom payments (though many refused to pay), and business interruptions. It also highlighted the importance of software updates and cybersecurity practices, as unpatched systems were highly vulnerable.

Answer:

1. ILOVEYOU Virus

• Description: A 2000 computer worm spread via email (subject "ILOVEYOU", attachment "LOVE-LETTER-FOR-YOU.TXT.vbs"), overwriting files and spreading via contacts/drives.
• Damage: ~$5.5 - $8.7B global loss, millions of computers infected, data loss, business/agency disruptions.

2. WannaCry Ransomware

• Description: 2017 ransomware exploiting Windows SMB vulnerability (EternalBlue), encrypting files, demanding Bitcoin ransom, spreading across networks.
• Damage: 200k+ computers in 150+ countries, UK NHS disruptions, billions in global costs (recovery, interruptions), emphasized patching importance.