Central Command: Top 12 Viruses For December 2002
Central Command Releases Its Dirty Dozen – Top 12 – Viruses
For December 2002
Alterations In Worm/Klez.E Subject Lines Allows For Continued Propagation, W32/Yaha.M Breaks-In At Number Ten
MEDINA, Ohio December 31, 2002 – Central Command, a leading provider of PC anti-virus software and computer security
services today released its monthly listing of the top twelve viruses reported for December 2002. The report, coined the “Dirty Dozen”, is based on the number of virus occurrences confirmed through Central Command’s Emergency Virus Response Team.
The table below represents the most prevalent viruses for December 2002, number one being the most frequent.
Ranking Virus Name Percentage
1. Worm/Klez.E (incl. G variant) 40.1%
2. W32/Yaha.E 14.7%
3. Worm/BugBear 8.6%
4. W32/Elkern.C 7.4%
5. Worm/W32.Sircam 6.8%
6. W32/Magistr.B 2.9%
7. W32/Nimda 2.3%
8. W32/Funlove 1.6%
9. W95/Hybris 1.1%
10. W32/Yaha.M 0.9%
11. Worm/Bride.C 0.8%
12. W95/CIH 0.6%
Others 12.2%
“With the ability to modify its subject line corresponding to the time of the year and email inboxes full of holiday
wishes, it comes as no surprise that Worm/Klez.E retains its number one spot for December,” said Steven Sundermeier product manager at Central Command, Inc. “Our Emergency Virus Response Team received numerous Worm/Klez.E based email submissions with “Merry Christmas” and other Christmas related text as its subject line. Likewise, as we near the year 2003, we have already began intercepting messages with the modified subject line; “Happy nice New Year”.
W32/Yaha.M, a variant of W32/Yaha.A, was the only newcomer to the Dirty Dozen debuting at number ten for December. W32/Yaha.M arrives with a variety of subject lines and email bodies; however, a vast majority of them have screensaver-based themes. The Worm/Opasoft family has also continued to pump out new variants in December.
Vexira Antivirus has been updated for 751 different viruses, worms and other malicious applications during the month of
December 2002.
Vexira Antivirus starts at $39.95, and a free 30-day trial version may be downloaded from (www.centralcommand.com) or obtained by contacting Central Command at +1-330 723-2062.
About Central Command: A leader in the anti-virus industry, Central Command, Inc., a privately held company, serves home
PC users and industrial, financial, government, education and service firms with virus protection software, services, and information. The company services customers in over 91 countries and is headquartered in Medina, Ohio. Visit Central Command online at (www.centralcommand.com) or call 1-330-723-2062 for more information.