Top Ten Viruses Reported To Sophos In January 2002

This is the latest in a series of monthly charts counting down the ten most frequently occurring viruses as compiled by Sophos, a world leader in corporate anti-virus protection.

For January 2002, the chart is as follows, with the most frequently occurring virus at number one:

1. W32/Badtrans-B (Badtrans variant) 61.1%

2. W32/MyParty-A (My Party) 4.3%

3. W32/Magistr-B (Magistr variant) 3.6%

4. W32/Sircam-A (Sircam) 2.9%

5. W32/Nimda-A (Nimda) 2.3%

6. W32/Maldal-G (Maldal variant) 1.6%

7. W32/Magistr-A (Magistr) 1.4%

8= W32/Gokar-A (Gokar) 1.3%

8= W32/Klez-E (Klez variant) 1.3%

10. W32/Nimda-D (Nimda variant) 1.0%

Others: 19.2%

“Badtrans started 2002 as it finished 2001 – top of the virus chart,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus. “Anti-virus software has protected against Badtrans since November and simple safe computing procedures, like blocking double-extension attachments, should have meant this worm was a non-starter. It’s time computer users took a close look at their security measures.”

792 new viruses were discovered and protected against by Sophos Anti-Virus during January 2002.

The total number of viruses Sophos now detects and protects against is 71,984.

For more information about Badtrans, please visit:

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32badtransb.html

Graphics of the above Top Ten chart are available at:

http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/imggallery/topten/

For more information about safe computing visit:

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/articles/safehex.html

Compiled by Sophos’s technical support team, the top ten chart is collated from submissions to Sophos’s 24 hour, 365 days a year technical support service.

About Sophos:

Sophos is one of the world’s largest specialist developers of anti-virus software. The products are sold and supported through a global network of subsidiaries and partners in more than 150 countries. Sophos Anti-Virus is widely used by large corporations, banks and governments.

For further information, please visit http://www.sophos.com

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