Are You Really Safe From Computer Viruses?

As the latest virus scare rips through your office, it dawns on you that your home computer doesn’t have nearly the same protection as your PC at work. Without the constant support of the IT department, your computer could be vulnerable to attack. Before jumping in and downloading all sorts of free, self-proclaimed anti-virus solutions, it is important to get a full understanding of what these invaders are, and what type of damage they can pose to your system.

What Is a Virus?

A virus is a type of malware, (also known as malicious software). It is an executable program that has the unique ability to replicate itself and permeate your machine. In some cases, the virus can latch on to your address book and contact lists and spread to other computers by way of the Internet.

Viruses Worms & Trojan Horses

There are different kinds of viruses, each serving a different, yet equally malicious purpose. As mentioned above, once launched a standard virus replicates repeatedly and often spreads to the people in your contact list. A virus can cause significant damage to your CPU, software programs and any data you have stored on your hard drive. On the other hand, worms do not need our help in activating or replicating. Some of the more notable abilities of the worm include monopolizing memory or bandwidth which slows down the processing speed of a computer, spreading itself throughout a network in great volume, and allows someone (the hacker) to take over your computer remotely. Lastly, there is the Trojan horse. Much like the Greek legend, the Trojan horse appears to be one thing, but in actuality is another. One example of a Trojan horse are the email attachments from Microsoft which claim to be security updates. Assuming that the sender is a legitimate source, many people downloaded the attachment not realizing it was a virus in disguise.

How to Identify a Virus

Not all computer issues are the result of a virus. Having your computer checked regularly by an information technology specialist can prevent many of the problems brought on by viruses. Having said that, there are a few common characteristics to watch out for that might signify a virus on your computer.
1. The computer freezes and becomes unresponsive regardless of your attempts to fix the problem
2. Unexpected crashes of applications
3. The appearance of strange errors
4. The CPU seems to be working over time when you aren’t using any programs,

How Can You Protect Your Computer?

The most important step you can take to protect your computer is to install an anti-virus program. Manufacturers such as Symantec and McAfee provide top level security for personal computers. However, installing this program once will not protect you from future viruses. You see, as viruses are manufactured, anti-virus companies make adjustments to their programs in order to protect against the latest attackers. An anti-virus system you download today may not protect you from next week’s virus. To combat this problem, software providers release patches, which are free of cost and can be downloaded directly from the Web. Staying abreast of the latest viruses will serve as a notification that you may need to install additional protective software. Other ways to avoid viruses: do not open any unknown attachments that may come through your email. Don’t be quick to download anything foreign; viruses can be hidden anywhere.