MANiks

MANiks refers to a family of computer viruses that emerged in the late 1990s. These viruses were notable for their ability to infect executable files, particularly those associated with Microsoft Windows. The MANiks viruses often spread through infected email attachments and infected files shared on networks or removable media. Their primary payload was typically destructive, aiming to corrupt or delete files, rendering systems unusable.

One of the common characteristics of MANiks viruses was their use of polymorphic techniques. This meant that the virus code would alter itself with each infection, making it more difficult for traditional signature-based antivirus software to detect. This adaptability contributed to their widespread impact and the challenge they posed to cybersecurity professionals at the time. While newer and more sophisticated threats have since emerged, the MANiks family represents an important chapter in the history of computer malware and the evolution of virus detection and prevention methods. The term itself is derived from a combination of "man" and "nix," reflecting the perceived destructive and difficult-to-eradicate nature of these infections.