Sophos- Virus Top Ten for October 2001

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 October 2001, the chart is as follows, with the most frequently occurring virus at number one:

1. W32/Sircam (Sircam) 21.7%

2. W32/Nimda-A (Nimda) 17.8%

3. W32/Magistr-B (Magistr variant) 16.1%

4. W32/Magistr-A (Magistr) 9.2%

5. W32/Hybris-B (Hybris variant) 6.6%

6. VBS/Kakworm (Kakworm) 2.5%

7. Unix/Sadmind (Sadmind) 1.9%

8. W32/Apology-B (Apology variant) 1.3%

9. W32/Verona-B (Verona variant) 1.2%

10. VBS/Haptime-A (Haptime) 1.0%

Others 20.7%

“Whilst some viruses cause a fright then fade away, Sircam continues to haunt users – four months after its release, it’s still infecting a significant number of users,” said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos Anti-Virus. “It’s mind-boggling that people are still getting caught out by Sircam. Anti-virus software protects against this worm, and simple safe computing should negate the threat.”

812 new viruses were discovered and protected against by Sophos Anti-Virus during October 2001.

The total number of viruses Sophos now detects and protects against is 68,823.

For more information about Sircam, visit:

http://www.sophos.com/virusinfo/analyses/w32sircama.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.