Feb 5, 2011
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"A computer virus is a small software program that spreads from one computer to another computer and that interferes with computer operation. A computer virus may corrupt or delete data on a computer, use an e-mail program to spread the virus to other computers, or even delete everything on the hard disk.
Computer viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or by instant messaging messages. Therefore, you must never open an e-mail attachment unless you know who sent the message or unless you are expecting the e-mail attachment. Computer viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files. Computer viruses also spread by using downloads on the Internet. Computer viruses can be hidden in pirated software or in other files or programs that you may download."
Computer viruses are most easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages or by instant messaging messages. Therefore, you must never open an e-mail attachment unless you know who sent the message or unless you are expecting the e-mail attachment. Computer viruses can be disguised as attachments of funny images, greeting cards, or audio and video files. Computer viruses also spread by using downloads on the Internet. Computer viruses can be hidden in pirated software or in other files or programs that you may download."
Symptoms of a computer virus
If you suspect or confirm that your computer is infected with a computer virus, obtain the current antivirus software. The following are some primary indicators that a computer may be infected:
- The computer runs slower than usual.
- The computer stops responding, or it locks up frequently.
- The computer crashes, and then it restarts every few minutes.
- The computer restarts on its own. Additionally, the computer does not run as usual.
- Applications on the computer do not work correctly.
- Disks or disk drives are inaccessible.
- You cannot print items correctly.
- You see unusual error messages.
- You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.
- There is a double extension on an attachment that you recently opened, such as a .jpg, .vbs, .gif, or .exe. extension.
- An antivirus program is disabled for no reason. Additionally, the antivirus program cannot be restarted.
- An antivirus program cannot be installed on the computer, or the antivirus program will not run.
- New icons appear on the desktop that you did not put there, or the icons are not associated with any recently installed programs.
- Strange sounds or music plays from the speakers unexpectedly.
- A program disappears from the computer even though you did not intentionally remove the program.
Note These are common signs of infection. However, these signs may also be caused by hardware or software problems that have nothing to do with a computer virus. Unless you run the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, and then you install industry-standard, up-to-date antivirus software on your computer, you cannot be certain whether a computer is infected with a computer virus or not.
-Source support.microsft.com
Symptoms of worms and trojan horse viruses in e-mail messages
When a computer virus infects e-mail messages or infects other files on a computer, you may notice the following symptoms:
- The infected file may make copies of itself. This behavior may use up all the free space on the hard disk.
- A copy of the infected file may be sent to all the addresses in an e-mail address list.
- The computer virus may reformat the hard disk. This behavior will delete files and programs.
- The computer virus may install hidden programs, such as pirated software. This pirated software may then be distributed and sold from the computer.
- The computer virus may reduce security. This could enable intruders to remotely access the computer or the network.
- You receive an e-mail message that has a strange attachment. When you open the attachment, dialog boxes appear, or a sudden degradation in system performance occurs.
- Someone tells you that they have recently received e-mail messages from you that contained attached files that you did not send. The files that are attached to the e-mail messages have extensions such as .exe, .bat, .scr, and .vbs extensions.
Symptoms that may be the result of ordinary Windows functions
A computer virus infection may cause the following problems:
- Windows does not start even though you have not made any system changes or even though you have not installed or removed any programs.
- There is frequent modem activity. If you have an external modem, you may notice the lights blinking frequently when the modem is not being used. You may be unknowingly supplying pirated software.
- Windows does not start because certain important system files are missing. Additionally, you receive an error message that lists the missing files.
- The computer sometimes starts as expected. However, at other times, the computer stops responding before the desktop icons and the taskbar appear.
- The computer runs very slowly. Additionally, the computer takes longer than expected to start.
- You receive out-of-memory error messages even though the computer has sufficient RAM.
- New programs are installed incorrectly.
- Windows spontaneously restarts unexpectedly.
- Programs that used to run stop responding frequently. Even if you remove and reinstall the programs, the issue continues to occur.
- A disk utility such as Scandisk reports multiple serious disk errors.
- A partition disappears.
- The computer always stops responding when you try to use Microsoft Office products.
- You cannot start Windows Task Manager.
- Antivirus software indicates that a computer virus is present.
Note These problems may also occur because of ordinary Windows functions or problems in Windows that are not caused by a computer virus.
A virus is a piece of malicious code or a software programme that has been written with the specific intent of causing damage to a computer or a network.
How does it work in practice?
A virus can be sent via an email or a document either from a friend, colleague or via a spurious email.
The best advice about viruses is that if you don’t know who the person is that has sent you an email; do not open it or indeed any attachments or links within the email.
An antivirus package will scan all incoming and outgoing emails to make sure that they don’t contain any viruses. If they discover a virus they will delete the appropriate files before it gets to you.
Why do I need it?
Quite simply, if you don’t have an antivirus package you will (unless you are extremely lucky) at some point be affected. This can cause major issues not only on your PC but is quite easy to pass across your organisation’s network and potentially impact everybody.
Is it something that I can install myself?
Yes, very much so. It is easy if you have just one PC but if your organisation has more than one and maybe a server, then it is important to install the software on those too.
Generally speaking, you can download an antivirus package either from a vendor’s website (and the appropriate number of licences according to how many users you have), or buy the disc from a vendor’s reseller.
Why do I need to update my antivirus package regularly?
New viruses are being created and developed all the time and naturally the antivirus vendors are developing counter measures to deal with them. If you don’t update your package regularly, you might miss an update and as a result your antivirus package may not pick up on a particular virus. As a result, it could cause issues on your PC and network.
You can easily automate the updating process to make sure that you’ll never miss an update.
What would happen if I don’t scan my PC every week?
You may not realise that one or a number of viruses have been introduced to your PC or network unless you scan for viruses regularly.
You can easily automate the scanning process so that it runs regularly, at a convenient time.
You may also find that not all antivirus packages are able to deal with all malware or spyware and it may be necessary to have more than one package.
What’s the downside of installing an antivirus package?
The most common pitfall is that an antivirus package may slow down your PC. That said - the benefits far outweigh the potential downsides.
How do I measure whether the package I’ve purchased is making me money or saving me money?
Quite simply, you can’t! You hope that you will never find out because if your network ever suffers from a virus, it can cause havoc, potentially destroying years of hard work. And cost a lot of money to put right.
How does it work in practice?
A virus can be sent via an email or a document either from a friend, colleague or via a spurious email.
The best advice about viruses is that if you don’t know who the person is that has sent you an email; do not open it or indeed any attachments or links within the email.
An antivirus package will scan all incoming and outgoing emails to make sure that they don’t contain any viruses. If they discover a virus they will delete the appropriate files before it gets to you.
Why do I need it?
Quite simply, if you don’t have an antivirus package you will (unless you are extremely lucky) at some point be affected. This can cause major issues not only on your PC but is quite easy to pass across your organisation’s network and potentially impact everybody.
Is it something that I can install myself?
Yes, very much so. It is easy if you have just one PC but if your organisation has more than one and maybe a server, then it is important to install the software on those too.
Generally speaking, you can download an antivirus package either from a vendor’s website (and the appropriate number of licences according to how many users you have), or buy the disc from a vendor’s reseller.
Why do I need to update my antivirus package regularly?
New viruses are being created and developed all the time and naturally the antivirus vendors are developing counter measures to deal with them. If you don’t update your package regularly, you might miss an update and as a result your antivirus package may not pick up on a particular virus. As a result, it could cause issues on your PC and network.
You can easily automate the updating process to make sure that you’ll never miss an update.
What would happen if I don’t scan my PC every week?
You may not realise that one or a number of viruses have been introduced to your PC or network unless you scan for viruses regularly.
You can easily automate the scanning process so that it runs regularly, at a convenient time.
You may also find that not all antivirus packages are able to deal with all malware or spyware and it may be necessary to have more than one package.
What’s the downside of installing an antivirus package?
The most common pitfall is that an antivirus package may slow down your PC. That said - the benefits far outweigh the potential downsides.
How do I measure whether the package I’ve purchased is making me money or saving me money?
Quite simply, you can’t! You hope that you will never find out because if your network ever suffers from a virus, it can cause havoc, potentially destroying years of hard work. And cost a lot of money to put right.
This post was written by: Franklin Manuel
Franklin Manuel is a professional blogger, web designer and front end web developer. Follow him on Twitter
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