What is a computer virus?
A. Computer viruses are the most popular of malicious software, which is developed with the aim of compromising a computer system. The following list includes the main types of malicious software: • Virus: small program designed to self-replicate on other computers, like a biological virus that spreads from one person to another. It may hinder the proper operation of the infected computer. • Worm: uses a computer’s resources to replicate and spread to other computers over the Internet. • Trojan horse: a seemingly legitimate program that executes harmful actions without a user’s authorization. E.g.: a “back door” creates an entrance to a computer system from a distance. • Spyware: gathers personal information about a user without authorization and sends it to a third party. Malicious software first appeared at the same time as computers so it is not a new problem. However, the objectives of the perpetrators have changed.
Strictly speaking, a computer virus is a program which reproduces its own code by attaching itself to other programs in such a way that the virus code is executed when the infected program is executed. However, more and more, the phrase “computer virus” is used to refer to any type of malicious software written deliberately to cause harm to someone’s computer or to use that computer in an unauthorized way. …
This link for basic virus information. Q: Should I be worried about viruses in the labs? A: You should take proper precautions. Macro viruses, found mainly in word documents, are the most common type found in labs. Open Word documents by following the advice in the next question. You should be safe from most viruses that are currently available. Q: How can I prevent the acquisition of viruses? A: Never open an email attachment that is not expected, especially from an unknown source. If Microsoft Word asks if you want to activate macros when opening a file, answer no, and then proceed to check the file for viruses. Regularly scan your files for viruses. This can be done at a lab machine by clicking on the virus scan icon under the disk utilities menu. Make Backups. This is not only good advice for virus protection but good advice in general.
There are many types of viruses that infect people and there are also a lot of computer viruses that can infect your computer. These are software, and are often attached to other software or documents you might receive. When you run the virus’s software or the file the virus has infected, the virus can infect your computer’s software. There are many types of viruses and terms for them, but we’ll use the general term ‘virus’ to make things easy. Like the flu virus, a computer virus must spread from host to host to survive. When we get the flu, we cough and sneeze, and tiny particles carrying the virus spread the flu to other people. With computer viruses, the virus is designed to spread from your computer to other computers. Here are some of the most common ways they spread: 1. Once the virus has infected your system, it may automatically send out emails containing more copies of the virus using the address book in your email program. This type of virus is called an Internet “Worm,” bec
