Downloader.GK 'Worst Trojan of 2004'

The Downloader.GK Trojan was named as the worst piece of malicious code of 2004, according to Spanish anti-virus firm Panda Software.

Downloader.GK infects Internet users who unknowingly visit Web sites that were designed to spread the Trojan.
'We offer users a free anti-virus scanner tool that they download from our Web site,' Panda Software spokesperson Javier Merchan. 'We use the results from these scans to rate the top viruses, worms and Trojans.'
Double Trouble
Downloader.GK was responsible for 14 percent of all attacks on computers detected by Panda Software last year -- more than double the attacks of any other virus this year.
When Internet users visit a Web site containing Downloader.GK, they are enticed to install a specific ActiveX application, which secretly installs spyware and adware on their systems.
Trojans Top Viruses
2004 was the first year that a Trojan topped Panda's annual threat list. In addition, four out of the top 10 threats that Panda tracked in 2004 were Trojans.
Trojans are malicious programs that do not spread on their own, unlike viruses or worms.
Below are the remaining top 10 threats that Panda tracked, followed by the percent of attacks for which they were responsible.
2. Netsky.P (6.92 percent)
3. Sasser.ftp (4.97 percent)
4. Gaobot.gen (4.31 percent)
5. Mhtredir.gen (4.22 percent)
6. Netsky.D (3.98 percent)
7. Downloader.L (3.56 percent)
8. Qhost.gen (3.48 percent)
9. Netsky.B (3.45 percent
10. StartPage.FH (3.34 percent)