computer viruses

Whether you clicked on a misleading banner ad, opened a file sent by a Nigerian prince or simply downloaded the wrong porn, everyone’s dealt with a computer virus at some point. While bad programming or virus checking software contains most outbreaks, some malware has managed to reach pandemic levels. With the help of Golden Richard III, a professor of computer science at the University of New Orleans and an expert on computer viruses, Popsci.com takes a look at ten viruses, worms and Trojans that reached levels of digital plague.

Used to be, you had to connect your PC to the Internet first before it became bloated with viruses and spyware. Now all it may take is plugging in a brand new iPod or digital picture frame—recently, new peripheral devices have been arriving in stores with viruses pre-installed. The problem is most likely stemming from poor quality control in Chinese factories when devices are tested before packaging. As office IT personnel well know, all it takes is one infected machine to spoil the entire network.