Computer virus

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A computer virus is a small software program that can spread from one computer system to
another and cause interferences with computer operations. A computer virus has the capacity to
corrupt or to delete data on your computer and it can use an e-mail program to spread the virus to
other email addresses in your online address book. In the worst case scenario, it can even delete
everything on your hard disk.

Forms of Computer Viruses

In the same way as viruses harm peoples' bodies, computer viruses can do considerable damage
to computer systems. Viruses are infections. Computer infections can come in several forms and
your computer can "catch" one in several ways:

 An email virus is one type of computer virus. An email virus can travel through
attachments in email messages and can automatically replicate itself by mailing itself to
dozens or even hundreds of people on your list of contacts found in your online address
book. There are email viruses that can launch themselves into your computer while you
are simply viewing the message. You don’t even need to double-click the message in
order for the message to install it.
 A Trojan horse is not a virus. It is a computer program that claims to be a game but, in
actuality, will just do damage once you run it. It may even erase your hard disk. It cannot
automatically replicate itself.
 A worm is a type of software called malware that uses security holes and computer
networks in order to replicate itself. The worm will scan the network for machines which
carry a particular security hole. It will then copy itself to the machine through the security
hole and will start replicating itself.

Viruses in general, start working and spreading once you start using the application or program
to which the virus is attached. For instance, a program that has a virus in it will place the virus in
the system’s memory each time that program is run.
Once the virus is in the memory, one of several things can happen. First, it can be programmed
to attach itself to other programs and applications, folders, or disks. Second, if given the chance,
it can infect a network.

How Computer Viruses Are Activated

Computer viruses are easily spread through the use of attachments in various email messages or
via messages from instant messaging; so, you must never open unexpected email attachments
unless you know and trust whoever sent the message.

Be very careful as computer viruses can be easily disguised as ordinary-looking attachments or

even as attractive images, funny graphics, cards, video, and audio files. Computer viruses can
also spread through downloads you do while online. They can be hidden in software, especially
in pirated items, or in other programs and files which you are downloading.

How Computer Viruses Operate

Viruses operate in a multitude of ways. Some will stay active only when the application to which
it is attached is running. Others will be inactive once the computer is turned off, while some will
run every time you turn your computer on after it has infected the network or system files.

There are some indicators that will tell you that your computer is infected:

 Your computer is running slower than normal

 Computer applications are not working right
 Disk drives and disks have become inaccessible
 You cannot print
 You find unusual, error messages
 Dialog boxes and menus are distorted
 You find double extensions on attachments which you’ve recently opened (ex. gif, jpg,
abs)
 Your antivirus program is suddenly disabled or cannot be restarted
 Antivirus programs cannot be installed in your computer or cannot run
 New and unusual icons suddenly appear on your desktop
 Strange music or sounds suddenly play from the speakers
 A program you typically use suddenly disappears from your computer without you
purposely removing it

To safeguard your files and to protect your computer, take time to understand computer viruses
and what you should avoid doing to save your system from the virus. Be sure to always turn on
the firewall, keep your computer’s operating system updated, update your antivirus software, and
use updated antispyware programs.

Your Dictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2017 by LoveToKnow Corp
Computer-virus

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Noun

(Plural computer viruses or computer virii)

1. (computing) A program which can covertly transmit itself between computers via
networks (especially the Internet) or removable storage such as CDs, USB drives, floppy
disks, etc., often causing damage to systems and data.

Usage notes

1. The term computer virus is often used instead of just virus to specify that a virus in the
computing sense, rather than the biological sense, is being referred to.
2. See also the note on the plural at virus.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Computer virus - Computer Definition

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See virus.
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is
strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All
rights reserved.

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How would you define computer-virus? Add your definition

here.
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Words near computer-virus in the dictionary

 computer-to

Read more at http://www.yourdictionary.com/computer-virus#V6eqgV4ERxq3L2A6.99

10 Tips on How to Prevent Malware From Infecting Your Computer—and

Your Livelihood
Brian Benton

Most of us have had to deal with a computer virus or some sort of malware by now. It wasn’t
fun; it was annoying, time consuming, and very frustrating.

When our computers start slowing down or behaving in an unusual way, we are often quick to
suspect that we have a virus. It might not be a virus, but it is likely that you have some sort of
malware. Some are malicious, and others are just annoying. The worst culprits are the hijackers
—malware programs that take over your browser, or worse yet, your computer. I have had to
remove these types of evil programs from personal computers and work computers in the past,
and I’m sure you have, too. Here are 10 tips on how to prevent malware from infecting your
computer, keeping your hardware safe.

1. Install Anti-Virus/Malware Software. This tip may go without saying, and I almost just
casually mentioned it in my opening paragraph. However, I have seen many computers—
especially home computers—that don’t have anti-virus/malware protection. This protection is a
must-have first step in keeping your computer virus free.

2. Keep Your Anti-Virus Software Up to Date. Having protection software is the first step;
maintaining it is the second. Free anti-virus software is better than nothing, but keep in mind that
it’s not the best solution. Microsoft does provide a security package for “free.” It’s free in that if
you have Windows on your machine, you are granted access, but you did pay for your Windows
license. Many users aren’t aware of this program, but it’s actually decent protection.
3. Run Regularly Scheduled Scans with Your Anti-Virus Software. This too may seem like a
no-brainer, but many of us forget to do this. Set up your software of choice to run at regular
intervals. Once a week is preferred, but do not wait much longer between scans. It’s difficult to
work on your computer while your anti-virus software is running. One solution is to run the
software at night when you aren’t using your computer. However, we often turn off our
computers at night, and so the scan never runs. Set your anti-virus software to run on a specific
night, and always leave your computer running on that day. Make sure it doesn’t shut off
automatically or go into hibernation mode.

4. Keep Your Operating System Current. Whether you are running Windows, Mac OS X,
Linux, or any other OS, keep it up to date. OS developers are always issuing security patches that
fix and plug security leaks. These patches will help to keep your system secure. Similarly, keep
your anti-virus software up to date. Viruses and malware are created all the time. Your scanning
software is only as good as its database. It too must be as up to date as possible.

Autodesk Recommends

Learn how to keep CAD software virus-free >>

5. Secure Your Network. Many of our computers connect to our files, printers, or the Internet
via a Wi-Fi connection. Make sure it requires a password to access it and that the password is
strong. Never broadcast an open Wi-Fi connection. Use WPA or WPA2 encryption. WEP is no
longer strong enough as it can be bypassed in minutes by experts. It’s also a great idea to not
broadcast your SSID (the name of your Wi-Fi network). You can still access it with your device,
you will just have to manually type in the SSID and the password. If you frequently have guests
who use your Internet, provide a guest SSID that uses a different password, just in case your
friends are evil hackers.
Autodesk Recommends

Learn How to Identify and Avoid Common CAD Viruses

6. Think Before You Click. Avoid websites that provide pirated material. Do not open an email
attachment from somebody or a company that you do not know. Do not click on a link in an
unsolicited email. Always hover over a link (especially one with a URL shortener) before you
click to see where the link is really taking you. If you have to download a file from the Internet,
an email, an FTP site, a file-sharing service, etc., scan it before you run it. Good anti-virus
software will do that automatically, but make sure it is being done.

7. Keep Your Personal Information Safe. This is likely the most difficult thing to do on the
Internet. Many hackers will access your files not by brute force, but through social engineering.
They will get enough of your information to gain access to your online accounts and will glean
more of your personal data. They will continue from account to account until they have enough
of your info that they can access your banking data or just steal your identity altogether. Be
cautious on message boards and social media. Lock down all of your privacy settings, and avoid
using your real name or identity on discussion boards.

8. Don’t Use Open Wi-Fi. When you are at the local coffee shop, library, and especially the
airport, don’t use the “free” open (non-password, non-encrypted) Wi-Fi. Think about it. If you
can access it with no issues, what can a trained malicious individual do?

9. Back Up Your Files. The best thing you can do is back up your files—all of them. Ideally you
will have your files (your data) in at least three places: the place where you work on them, on a
separate storage device, and off-site. Keep your files on your computer, back them up to an
external hard drive, then back them up in a different location. You can use a backup service or
simply get two external hard drives and keep one at work, at a friend’s house, at a family
member’s house, or in a safe deposit box.

Why is data backup important? Check out Risky Business: 5 Essential Tips for Data Backup.

10. Use Multiple Strong Passwords. Never use the same password, especially on your bank
account. Typically, we use the same email address or username for all of our accounts. Those are
easy to see and steal. If you use the same password for everything, or on many things, and it is
discovered, then it takes only seconds to hack your account. Use a strong password. Use lower
case, upper case, numbers, and symbols in your password. Keep it easy to remember but difficult
to guess. Do not use dates or pet names.
For more tips on protecting your data, check out 10 Ways to Avoid Viruses and Spyware.

What are the steps you take to protect your computer and data? Please share your ideas below in
the comments section.

What are the effects of a computer virus?

A:

Quick Answer

A computer virus can have many effects, such as deleting or corrupting files, replicating itself,
affecting how programs operate or moving files. Some common types of viruses include resident
viruses, overwrite viruses, file infectors, directory viruses and boot viruses. A computer virus is a
type of malware that is designed to enter a user's computer without permission.

Continue Reading

Keep Learning


What are some tips for computer virus cleanup?

What are the names of the most popular computer virus

protection programs?

Where are instructions on how to uninstall RegClean

Pro?
Full Answer

Resident viruses are permanent infections that exist in a computer's RAM memory. These viruses
are capable of interrupting actions that the operating system attempts to execute. They can also
corrupt files and programs that are opened, closed, renamed or copied.

Overwrite viruses infect files and then delete the information stored in the infected areas,
rendering the files unusable. Data infected by overwrite viruses is difficult to retrieve, and the
virus can typically only be removed by deleting infected files completely.

File infectors infiltrate executable programs or files, activating themselves only when the
program is run. File infectors account for a large portion of existing viruses.

Directory viruses alter directory paths, changing the location of infected files. When the infected
programs run, they operate from a new location determined by the virus. This makes directory
viruses difficult to locate and neutralize.

A boot virus infects a computer's hard drive, making it unable to boot up. In earlier eras of
computing, boot viruses could also be found on infected floppy disks.

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