How to Recognize Computer Viruses
November 18, 2008 by
A computer virus is programmed to copy itself to reserved areas of the hard drive and from one file to another. A virus may spread rapidly or slowly, infecting programs and/or documents on a 
computer and attached drives. A virus usually spreads to other computers via a network, e-mail, and removable media, e.g., zip disks and floppy diskettes.
Computer viruses are mysterious and grab our attention. Every time a new virus hits, it makes the news as it spreads quickly. Viruses can do anything from annoying the user to deleting your entire computer. With more computers are being connected to the Internet, viruses are very easy to be spread.
What is a Computer Virus?
A computer virus is basically a malicious computer code that either harms computer data by writing over reserved areas of the operating system or attaches itself to other programs.
Viruses can infect computer files, programs, and write over parts of files. Viruses are also able to delete files from removable disk media (e.g. floppy diskettes, zip disks) or the hard drive.
More recent viruses take advantage of vulnerabilities in e-mail programs. These new viruses are written to not only damage your computer, but (with certain software configurations) also send a copy of the virus-contaminated document to all entries in the e-mail program's address book. Viruses can be transmitted through any platform - Macintosh, Windows, Linux, etc...
Viruses spread from computer system to computer system, usually by removable disk media, via e-mail and downloads. Computers connected to a network are even more susceptible because newer viruses are written to spread through the network, infecting files on all connected computers.
While some viruses can be removed with anti-virus programs, it is recommended that you keep two backup copies of your important files, thus increasing your chances to have a clean copy available in the event a virus infects a file.
Types of viruses
There are three basic types of 'virus' each with a different intended purpose.
Computer viruses are mysterious and grab our attention. Every time a new virus hits, it makes the news as it spreads quickly. Viruses can do anything from annoying the user to deleting your entire computer. With more computers are being connected to the Internet, viruses are very easy to be spread.
What is a Computer Virus?
A computer virus is basically a malicious computer code that either harms computer data by writing over reserved areas of the operating system or attaches itself to other programs.
Viruses can infect computer files, programs, and write over parts of files. Viruses are also able to delete files from removable disk media (e.g. floppy diskettes, zip disks) or the hard drive.
More recent viruses take advantage of vulnerabilities in e-mail programs. These new viruses are written to not only damage your computer, but (with certain software configurations) also send a copy of the virus-contaminated document to all entries in the e-mail program's address book. Viruses can be transmitted through any platform - Macintosh, Windows, Linux, etc...
Viruses spread from computer system to computer system, usually by removable disk media, via e-mail and downloads. Computers connected to a network are even more susceptible because newer viruses are written to spread through the network, infecting files on all connected computers.
While some viruses can be removed with anti-virus programs, it is recommended that you keep two backup copies of your important files, thus increasing your chances to have a clean copy available in the event a virus infects a file.
Types of viruses
There are three basic types of 'virus' each with a different intended purpose.
If you are in need of help with today's high tech computer security issues, you are not alone. I'll give you some easy to understand help with your computer regarding these threats and how to counter them.
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- Viruses can infect computer files.
- Viruses can be transmitted through any platform
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