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PandaLabs’ New Report Assesses Most Interesting Worm, Virus and Trojans of 2009

Panda Security's anti-malware labs division, PandaLabs, has lately released its virus yearbook for 2009, wherein it has analyzed the most exciting worm, virus, and Trojan infections that emerged during the last one year (2009).

As per PandaLabs, the major information security challenge in 2009 was Conficker.C worm that first emerged on December 31, 2008, and in 2009 infected the firms as well as home users in a similar fashion. The resolute and menacing character of this worm has helped it attain the top spot in Panda's malware list.

Virus called Samal.A is also present in the list which targets the computers; it will lead to a message- "Ah ah you didn't say the magic word"- with the cursor glimmering waiting for a word to be entered by users. In fact, regardless of the wordentered, after three successive attempts, a phrase reading "Samael has come. This the end" will be shown and the system will restart.

Besides this, DirDel.A wreaks retribution on attacked users, gradually substituting folders in distinct directories with its own copies. As per security researchers, this worm is contained in a file known as Vendetta.exe having a distinctive icon of Windows folder.

PandaLabs also converses of Sinowal.VZR Trojan in the report, whom it has placed fourth in its rankings. It has victimized several systems disguising as plane tickets apparently bought by user.

PandaLabs has named Whizz.A as "the all-action virus". The systems it infect will start producing a series of beeps, the mouse pointer runs hysterically around the screen, the DVD/CD tray opens and closes, and the screen is embellished with a sequence of bars.

WinVNC.A and Sinowal.WRN have also been listed by PandaLabs that used rising concern about swine flu to dupe users and compromise their computers. Further, Banbra.GMH comes in a mail assuring pictures of Brazilian parties.

In a sarcastic tone, PandaLabs claims that the "most affectionate malware of 2009" was BckPatcher.C that substitutes the wallpaper on the desktop with an image stating "virus kiss 2009".

Finally, there is Ransom.K, which is rather a debutant in the list. This Trojan encrypts documents on compromised systems and then asks for a ransom of $100 to free them. But its inventor, perhaps wanting in experience, committed a programming error that enables users to free the files with a simple combination of keys.

Related article: PandaLabs Report Discusses Movie Trojan and Other Worms

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