Ghostball (computer virus)

Ghostball was the first multipartite virus discovered. The virus was discovered in October 1989, by Fridrik Skulason. It infected both executable .COM-files and boot sectors.

Effects

This virus has several effects:

• It carries out damaging actions on the affected computer.
• It captures certain information entered or saved by the user, with the corresponding threat to privacy.
• It causes the loss of information stored on the computer, either specific files or data in general.
• It affects the productivity of the computer, the network to which it's connected or other remote sites.
• It carries out actions that decrease the security level of the computer.
• It does not spread automatically using its own means.

See also

• Timeline of notable computer viruses and worms
• Comparison of computer viruses
• Computer virus
• Malware
• Multipartite virus