First, a few words about viruses, a computer virus is a program or programming code that replicates itself by being copied or by starting its copy in another program, computer boot sector, or document. So, a virus is nothing more than a small program made up of binary code, that is, ones and zeros, just like the other programs that the PC runs, and the exact order of that code is called the virus signature. Each virus has a different signature.
Unlike viruses, computer worms are malicious programs that replicate themselves from one system to another, instead of infiltrating legitimate files.
Let me tell you that even a small virus can do various bad things to your computer. This can quickly use up all of your computer’s available memory and slow down or stop your system. You can delete files, format hard drives or mix the data on them. Totally a virus program makes it impossible for you to access the computer. They can attack virtually all operating systems; however, they are more common on Windows 9x machines.
Virus Transmission Methods:
The most common methods of virus transmission include Internet downloads, files stored on floppy disks, and email attachments. Despite being popular, floppy disks are very sensitive to their environment (dust, humidity, magnetic fields, etc.), which can lead to file damage and corruption and transfer viruses through computers.
While the floppy has declined in recent years, it still accounts for nearly 20% of viruses transferred, while email has risen to nearly 60%. In fact, virus writers use the names of well-known people to entice users to click on web links or open files that then infect their computers. Examples include viruses known as “ILoveYou” or “Love Letter” and the “Anna Kournikova” email, “Michael Jackson has attempted suicide”, etc. According to a survey, the top 10 celebrity virus ranking list is: Britney Spears, Bill Gates, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Osama Bin Laden, Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, Anna Kournikova, Paris Hilton, and Pamela Anderson.
Tips to avoid viruses and worms:
- Install antivirus software, update it regularly, and use it regularly.
- Install security patches
- Use a firewall and secure your browser.
- Never open unsolicited email attachments with the VBS, SHS, or PIF file extensions.
- Disconnect your network or cable modem when you’re not using your computer, or just turn it off.
- Avoid P2P and distributed file sharing.
- Avoid attachments with sexual file names.
What is antivirus software?
Antivirus software consists of computer programs that attempt to identify, thwart, and remove computer viruses and other malicious software (malware). Antivirus software programs may contain between 40,000 and 100,000 “virus definitions” that are updated daily or as needed. When you buy antivirus software, you receive the software, but the definitions you receive are the real value of your purchase. Once they have expired, you will need to extend the service or purchase new software.
The benefits of antivirus software:
- High-quality antivirus protection provided by an antivirus research team.
- Automatic updates take care of everything.
- A full scan of CD/DVD-ROMs, floppy disks, USB sticks, Internet browsing and Internet downloads.
- Once a virus is detected, antivirus software quarantines it so it doesn’t spread. It will then try to delete it and repair any damage done to the file.
There are conflicting claims for the innovator of the first antivirus product. Perhaps the first publicly known neutralization of a wild PC virus was carried out by the European Bernt Fix (also Bernd) in early 1987. Subsequently, many antivirus programs have been developed by notable research teams. Some of them are the following:
Avast, antivirus, AVG Anti-Virus, Bitdefender, F-Secure, Kaspersky AntiVirus, MaAfee Virus Scan, NOD32, Norman, Norton AntiVirus, Panda AntiVirus, PC-cillin, PC Tools AntiVirus, Windows Live OneCare, ZoneAlarm AntiVirus.
Of all these antivirus software, AVG, AntiVir Guard and Avast offer the free subscription. There are differences between free and paid antivirus software programs. The paid antivirus program detects and disarms the dangerous attachment even before you open it, while the free product may not discover the virus until you click on the attachment. However, the free product still prevents the virus from opening and doing its dirty work. In general, the protection offered by free antivirus packages is solid, if not as feature-rich as paid alternatives.