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Executable files or
the system areas of
hard and floppy disks
and then making copies
of itself. Viruses
usually operate without
the knowledge or desire
of the computer user.
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Viruses have the potential
to infect any type
of executable code,
not just the files
that are commonly
called 'program files'.
For example, some
viruses infect executable
code in the boot sector
of floppy disks or
in
system areas of hard
drives. Another type
of virus, known as
a 'macro' virus, can
infect word processing
and spreadsheet documents
that use macros. And
it's possible for
HTML documents containing
JavaScript or other
types of executable
code to spread viruses
or other malicious
code. |
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When you execute program
code that's infected
by a virus, the virus
code will also run
and try to infect
other programs, either
on the same computer
or on other computers
connected to it over
a network When you
share a copy of an
infected file with
other computer users,
running the file may
also infect their
computers; and files
from those computers
may spread the infection
to yet more computers.
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Viruses
are software programs,
and they can do the
same things as any
other programs running
on a computer. The
actual effect of any
particular virus depends
on how it was programmed
by the person who
wrote the virus.
Some viruses are deliberately
designed to damage
files or otherwise
interfere with your
computer's operation,
while others don't
do anything but try
to spread themselves
around. But even the
ones that just spread
themselves are harmful,
since they damage
files and may cause
other problems in
the process of spreading.
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A
type of program that
is often confused
with viruses is a
'Trojan horse' program.
This is not a virus,
but simply a program
(often harmful) that
pretends to be something
else.
For example, you might
download what you
think is a new game;
but when you run it,
it deletes files on
your hard drive. Or
the third time you
start the game, the
program E-mails your
saved passwords to
another person.
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Treat
any file attachments
that might contain
executable code as
carefully as you would
any other new files:
save the attachment
to disk and then check
it with an up-to-date
virus scanner before
opening the file.
If your E-mail or
news software has
the ability to automatically
execute JavaScript,
Word macros, or other
executable code contained
in or attached to
a message, we strongly
recommend that you
disable this feature.
If an executable file
shows up unexpectedly
attached to an E-mail,
you should delete
it unless you can
positively verify
what it is, who it
came from, and why
it was sent to you.
Just because an E-mail
appears to come from
someone you trust,
this does NOT mean
the file is safe or
that the supposed
sender had anything
to do with it.
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The
best way to know this
is to use a good,
updated antivirus
program to scan your
system thoroughly.
There are other signs
that can be symptomatic
of a virus infection
in a computer: general
slowdown, files and/or
information disappear,
peripheral devices
don't function properly
etc. |
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The
solution is to install
a good antivirus with
daily updates and
excellent tech support
services.
It is also important
to be well informed
about how viruses
infect and spread
and to take the precautions
necessary. |
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Viruses
have a wide range
of effects, from complete
destruction of all
information on a computer
to running small joke
programs with little
or no damaging effects.
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The
Internet is currently
the main virus entry
point. This is due
to the enormous possibilities
it offers for exchanging
information (e-mail,
browsing web pages,
file download, chats,
newsgroups, etc) which
it turns make the
mass proliferation
of viruses possible.
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The
first thing to do
is simple: don't open
it. Then scan it with
a good, updated antivirus.
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The
main reason is that
every day, more and
more users are interconnected
via the Internet or
other networks, which
creates a major channel
for the spread of
viruses.
Virus programmers
are also using ever
more sophisticated
techniques to create
viruses and more cunning
ploys to trick users.
Similarly, vulnerabilities
in commonly used software
are now being exploited
frequently by virus
authors as a means
of spreading malicious
code. |
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