|
 | |
about computer viruses
1. What is a virus? A virus is the name for a parasitic program
written to intentionally enter a computer without the user's
permission or knowledge. The word parasitic is used because a
virus attaches to files or boot sectors and replicates itself so
it can spread. Though some viruses do little more than copy
themselves, others can cause serious damage or affect program
and system performance. Therefore a virus should never be
assumed harmless or left on a system.
2. One way you can't get a virus You cannot get a virus simply
by being on the internet or using an online service. You will
only become infected via the internet if you download an
infected file and then run that file.
3. Three ways you can get a virus There are only three ways you
can get a virus: i) by executing an infected program ii) booting
from an infected diskette iii) opening an infected email
attachment. Strictly speaking i) and iii) are pretty much the
same, but most people think of them quite differently, so I will
too.
4. What are infected program viruses? Infected program viruses
are often attached to other software programs like games, disk
utilities, the macros in office documents and screen-savers.
They are activated when these normally harmless programs are
started. When the infected application is run the virus
activates and loads into memory, where it can infect any new
program that you open. This means that ever more applications on
your system will become infected, which will almost certainly
cause system problems. Files downloaded directly from the
Internet (either through file-sharing programs or direct
download from websites), are among the fastest growing sources
of computer virus infections.
5. What is a boot infector? Booting from an infected disk simply
means allowing your computer to start up with a disc, CD or DVD
in the drive. Even so called 'non bootable' diskettes, CD's, and
DVD's can be infected by a boot sector virus, so make a point of
removing all kinds of discs when you've finished with them. Once
the 'boot code' on your hard drive is infected, the virus will
be loaded into your computer's memory every time you start your
computer, from where the virus can infect each and every disk
that is put into your computer. Floppy disks, though not as
commonly used as in the past, are still a very common way
viruses being spread from machine to machine. Anyone with an
infected machine, using a floppy disk to copy and save files,
can also copy and transfer the virus.
6. How do email infections happen? Email is now a favorite way
to spread viruses. They are contained in the attachments (the
files that can be sent along with an e-mail message). Often the
user of an infected computer unknowingly attaches an infected
file to an email message, and then sends the email to a friend
or colleague. When the email is received and the file attachment
is opened, the virus launches itself. Email messages with
animations, automated greeting cards, jokes, photographs, even
spreadsheets and document files, all have been documented to
contain virus files. Many of the most dangerous viruses are
primarily spread through e-mail attachments.
7. One simple way to avoid infections Obtain software from
reputable sources. Downloading a service pack for Windows NT
from Microsoft's web site is a very different proposition than
downloading a freeware disk utility from a company you've never
heard of, on a site in a province of the former Soviet Union.
You use common sense - for instance, beware of Automatic
Downloads - take care when using programs that download and run
update patches and programs automatically. While in most cases
these will not be a problem, having downloaded software run
automatically without virus checking exposes you to potential
problems in my opinion. Regardless of where you get your
software even shrink-wrapped CDs from a reputable supplier,
ALWAYS scan it for viruses BEFORE you execute the program or
installer.
8. A second simple way to avoid infections Control your network
connections and access to your computer. You could limit access
just to those who have a need - fully 80% of damage caused to
information systems is caused by action taken (either accidental
or deliberate) by an employee or friend, and not from outside
sources.
9. Be safe rather than sorry Make sure you have backups for all
your files. Backups are essential not only to safely recover
from virus infections, but also to recover from the other
threats to your data (such as a hard disk failure or a major
coffee spilling accident).
10. Use quality virus protection software Last, but certainly
not least, use good quality market leading commercial virus
protection software packages. The primary benefit of using top
commercial software is the frequency and ease of updating the
virus definition files that these programs use to detect
viruses. With new viruses popping up all the time, unless your
protection software is kept updated (daily and automatically),
you become ever more vulnerable to infection.
To learn more about effective, easy to afford and use PC
protection tools, visit
http://www.antivirus-report.com
Note:
If you manage a website with similar content to
http://www.antivirus-report.com,
we are interested in exchanging
links with you. Please visit
http://www.antivirus-report.com/link-to-us.html for more details.
Note II:
We have a 100% brandable version of the antivirus report
available to anyone who wants to add an effective broad appeal
revenue source to their portfolio. It is available at no expense
( F.R.E.E. ) here:
http://www.antivirus-report.com/aa-brand.html
About the author:
Eric Koshinsky Email:
articles@antivirus-software.com
created the layman's guide to antivirus and PC
protection after helping too many people deal with simple PC
problems. Find out exactly how to protect your computer from
harmful internet attacks at
http://www.antivirus-report.com. The
comprehensive antivirus report is available at no cost. Find out
how to block trojan horses, spyware, computer viruses, and other
malicious software quickly and easily in one place
You have
permission to publish this article electronically or
in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included
and all links are made active. A courtesy copy of your
publication would be appreciated:
published@antivirus-report.com
|
