.: Ways That Computer Viruses Spread
By:Jordi Shoman
For a virus or similar program to have any great impact it needs to be able to spread from one machine to another. They are specifically designed to get access to parts of your computer system that allow for communication with other machines. Below is a discussion of some of the most common methods.
Boot Infectors
Every disk (hard disk, floppy, CD, DVD) contains a boot sector whether it is a bootable disk or not. When a computer is turned on, it looks for boot information. If the computer finds a disk with boot information, it reads that information and uses it to properly start the computer. If for some reason that boot information is infected with a virus, the virus is activated and possibly transferred to the computer's hard drive (if the infection was on a CD for example).
Once the boot code on the hard drive is infected the virus will be loaded into your computer's memory every time you start your computer. From memory the boot virus can travel to any and every disk that is put into your computer. This is how the infection spreads.
Most boot viruses could be on a system for a long time without causing problems, simply existing there to spread themselves. Often such viruses are designed to activate their bad behaviour on a specific date (Halloween for example). There are some nasty boot viruses that will destroy the boot information or force a complete format of the hard drive immediately after they get into a computer.
Program Infectors
When an infected application is run the virus activates and is loaded into memory. While the virus is in memory any new program file that you run can become infected. This means that there will be increasingly more applications on your system that are infected. Multiple infections are very common and will certainly cause system problems.
Program files may function without any problems for some time but eventually they will have problems or multiple infections brings the entire computer system down. The data the program produces may be a first sign of infection such as saving files without proper names, or with incorrect/incomplete data being saved.
Viruses of this type are often designed to seek out programs that are used to share information between users/computers such as email applications, screen savers, office document Macros, and self-extracting compressed files.
Through e-mail attachments
Many of the most dangerous viruses are primarily spread through e-mail attachments - files that can be sent along with an e-mail message. In such cases, the user of an infected computer unknowingly attaches an infected file to an email message, and then sends the email to a friend or colleague. When the email is received, the virus is launched when the file attachment is opened, thus infecting a new computer. Email messages with animations, automated greeting cards, jokes, photographs, spreadsheet and document files, all have been documented to contain virus files.
More and more frequently these days mass mailing email worms/viruses are being released. These attacks AUTOMATICALLY scan your computer's files for any email address it can find and then uses your email application to AUTOMATICALLY send infected messages to any email address found in any file on your computer (not just email message files).
It is important to be aware of the emails that you open to make sure that they do not contain harmful viruses. Even emails from family and friends could have a virus, if that person's computer is infected. This is where an anti-virus software would be really helpful in detecting if there is a virus in any incoming messages.
Article keywords: antivirus software, norton antivirus, pccillin, anti virus, norton, virus, trojan horse
Article Source: http://www.articles32.com
Antivirus software and general PC protection and maintenance are essential for safe and secure computing. Right now learn to easily block trojan horses, spyware, computer viruses, and other malicious software.
.: New Computers Articles
1). Is Spyware Slowing Your Computer Down To A Crawl?
Everyday more and more computers are becoming infected with Spyware and Adware (advertising tracking).
2). Writers and Ergonomics
This article talks about the need to pay attention to your body if you sit in a chair at a computer for long hours and talks about some of the ergonomic solutions to this problem
3). Anti Adware and Spyware Programs
Adware is any software application software which makes banners appear the whole time it is in function. Also, the adware program can install components that will transmit information about the user and its behavior and this work on his PC.
4). Why HP Toner Cartridges Are The Best
Many factors determine a quality toner cartridge. Find out why HP toner cartridges always seem to come out on top.
5). Microsoft Dynamics GP Customization Tools Evolution, Overview For Consultant
This small article is targeted to Microsoft Dynamics GP audience. Recent Microsoft marketing move from Microsoft Business Solutions to Dynamics means Project Green wave 1 progress.
6). Data Recovery Software: At Your Rescue
Computers are an integral part of our lives. They are used at every juncture, and of course play a major role in businesses. In fact, the smooth working of small, medium, big and very big enterprises depend heavily on the computer. But they arent perfect, and it would be unfair to consider them as perfect.
7). Consumer Beware... Identity Theft Tools & Techniques
Identity theft is very quickly becoming the crime of choice for thousands of criminals worldwide. With online Internet access to just about any kind of database you want becoming easier and easier to acquire, the crime of Identity Theft is becoming so easy, a child could do it, if they are even mildly adept at using a computer.
.: Top Computers Articles
1). Httpwww.google.com, httpgroups.yahoo.com, Invalid URL, Why?
So you have heard of Google or Yahoo, fired up the trusty Internet Explorer and typed one of the following phrase's in the search bar, httpwww.google.com, httpgroups.yahoo.com, httpyahoo.com, or perhaps wwwgmail.com, hit search, "--" Eh, Nothing, WHY?
You are not alone, over 3,000,000 people a year type in httpwww.google.com, over 2,000,000 type in httpgroups.
2). Understanding Your PC's CPU Clock Speed And Front Side Bus
Copyright 2006 Otis Cooper
Have a computer in your home that is put to use often? Why not take the time to fully understand the terms, the components,and software used to make it work. To understand your PC is not hard and you'll be rewarded greatly.
How you ask? By upgrading your own system as well as repairing those of your friends while earning extra cash in the process.
3). Holiday Myspace Backgrounds For Your Myspace Profile
Myspace is now one of the top five most-visited websites in the world. Indeed, it has taken the Internet world by storm. At last count, they had more than 30 million users from around the globe. Amazing, isn't it? This article is for regular myspace users.
A lot of changes can be made in your myspace profile to make it look more colorful, cheerful and appealing.
4). Step By Step: Add Image Validation To Your Website Form
Copyright 2006 David Picella
If you are a do-it-yourself programmer and you want to know how to add image validation to a form on your web site then this is the article for you. While there are many ways to do this, if you follow these steps, you will learn the easiest way to get the job done. Once you have mastered the example here, you will have all the concepts and experience you need to incorporate the final product into your form on your website.
5). The danger behind peer-to-peer file sharing
File sharing is very common nowadays. You can get a P2P (peer-to-peer) program for free, and soon start sharing stuff like music, videos and programs. We use these applications freely and most of us don’t know the risks involved when using them.
Questionable reliability of files – Once we get our hands on a P2P program, we download everything we want like crazy.
6). RAM and Latency... what you need to know
RAM latency is one of the most overlooked methods of optimizing your computer. Find out exactly how you can tweak your memory timings in order to make your system run quicker.
7). Verizon DSL - It's Cheaper Than You Think
Verizon DSL is a digital subscriber link (DSL) internet service provided by Verizon communications. Internet can be accessed in many ways like cable, ISDN, dial-up, optical fiber, power line internet, satellite, wi-fi, DSL etc. The advantage of DSL is that the voice telephone and fax can be used simultaneously with the internet connection. DSL technology takes advantage of the fact that on the telephone line, voice occupies a very small bandwidth and a large bandwidth is unused.