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| Computer Virus What
is a virus? Typically a computer virus will replicate itself and try to infect as many files and systems as possible. If your system is infected, when you save a file to a disk you will probably infect the disk, and in turn whoever uses that disk will infect their system. As you can see, it's a vicious cycle, not unlike the viruses that plague humans. New computer viruses are being written all the time, and it's important to understand how your system can be exposed to them, and what you can do to protect your computer. How
you get infected The
two main ways viruses enter your system are through files added
to your system from floppy disks (or other removable media like
"Zip disks") and from downloading from the Internet or
private bulletin boards. You can also get a virus through an e-mail
attachment, but not from a plain text e-mail message
alone. A
common myth regarding viruses is that they can only be passed into
your system through executable program files, or files that are
actually programs, not just data. You'd also think, then, that infection
couldn't take place unless the program holding the virus is launched.
With the advent of "macro" viruses, though, this distinction
is getting blurred. Macro viruses can exist inside any document
whose application uses a macro language, such as the "Concept"
virus passed in Microsoft Word documents. In this case, a user can
have a clean version of Microsoft Word and simply open an infected
Word document, which will then infect the application.
How
to check for viruses
Some common symptoms that could indicate your system's been infected are:
There are several programs (called virus protection software, antivirus software, or virus checks) that will check your system for known viruses, scan incoming files, and warn you before any infected files are let in. An important fact about these programs is that they are only as good as their database of known viruses. Since new and different viruses are being introduced all the time, antivirus databases need to be updated often. If you have a system that is not currently running virus protection software, the first thing you should do is install one of these programs and have it scan your hard drive. It will identify any files that have been infected by any virus it recognizes and offer you the option to repair the file if it can. In some cases infected files can be "cleaned" by your virus protection software; in others, the files will have to be discarded. Once you have determined that all the files in your system are virus-free, this would be a good time to do a complete back-up of your system. Back-up will be a future topic of The Tip Sheet. If you get infected in the future, you will really appreciate having clean copies of your files. How
to protect your system from viruses
Once you've scanned your system for viruses and determined it to be clean, it's a good idea to put in place procedures to protect your system. The number one thing to do-- be careful whenever you're installing software or downloading files. Most antivirus software can be set to scan all floppy disks inserted in your system and to scan files that are downloaded to your system, including e-mail attachments. I highly recommended that you set up your software to do this. This is the most important thing you can do to protect your system. It's also extremely important to keep your antivirus software current, and you should check regularly with your virus program's manufacturer for updates to their product. This can usually be done at the manufacturer's website. What
to do if you have a virus In extreme cases, it may be necessary to reformat your hard drive, destroying all of the data on it. Then you'll have to reinstall your software and data, assuming you have the original software disks and clean backups of your files. In this case, it's a good idea to install your virus protection software first on the empty hard drive, so that the integrity of your backup files and original software can be verified. You
might also want to contact all the people that you've recently (or
at any time) exchanged information with-- via floppy disks, e-mail
attachments, Zip disks-- and let them know your system's been infected
and theirs may be infected as well. You'd want to advise them to
check their system for the appropriate virus or symptoms. Types
of Viruses
Computer viruses are categorized into four main types: boot sector, file or program, macro, and multipartite viruses.
Where
to get Virus Scanners........(Purchase) Here are some Links to Retail Virus Scanners, (Don't worry, I also have a couple of FREE ones for you.) just click on the links to go straight to the sites. Norton AntiVirus This is the Program I recommend if you're going to purchase one. McAfee ViruScan Another well know Program. Where
to get a FREE Virus
Scanner AVG
Antivirus This is totally free, no strings attached, no-one
will send you e-mail asking you to buy something. Just click on
the link and follow the instructions. Update If you have any problems downloading, installing, etc. e-mail me and I'll try to walk you through it. |
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| Updated
on
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:49 AM
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