left.png right.png
 

What is a VIRUS.

A virus is a type of program that can replicate itself by making (possibly modified) copies of itself. The main criterion for classifying a piece of executable code as a virus is that it spreads itself by means of 'hosts'.

How do Viruses spread.

A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or carrying it on a removable media. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.

Viruses are often confused with worms.

A worm, however, can spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host. Many personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to local-area networks, facilitating their spread.

Today's viruses may also take advantage of network services such as the World Wide Web, e-mail, and file sharing systems to spread, blurring the line between viruses and worms.

Viruses infect different types of hosts.

The most common targets are executable files that contain application software or parts of the operating system. Viruses have also infected the executable boot sectors of floppy disks, script files of application programs, and documents that can contain macro scripts. Additionally, viruses can infect files in other ways than simply inserting a copy of their code into the code of the host program.

For example, a virus can overwrite its host with the virus code, or it can use a trick to ensure that the virus program is executed when the user wants to execute the (unmodified) host program. Viruses have existed for many different operating systems, including MS-DOS, AmigaOS, Linux and Mac OS; today, the majority of viruses today run on Microsoft Windows©.

Controlling Viruses.

Always have an up-to-date antivirus program installed and running on you PC. Check for virus definition file update often, sometimes updates come out as often as once a day.

If your antivirus program detects a virus but is unable to clean it from your computer. This should then be submitted to the antivirus program makers so they can develop a fix for it, follow the instructions on the appropriate web site for submitting viruses.

Data Hospital recommends.

  • Scan all disks and files for viruses before copying them onto your computer
  • Never open an email attachment unless you know who sent it and/or it is not infected with a virus
  • Microsoft© will never email updates to you. Certain viruses are spread by hoax emails claiming to be the latest security updates for Microsoft Windows.©
  • Scan your computer minimum of once per week and/or if you think you may be infected.

Why Data Hospital.

Data Hospital has the experience to handle the threats that have infected your computer and remove them the safest way possible, ensuring as far as possible that your valuable data is protected. It is easy to re-install your operating system and programs but almost impossible to recover your valuable lost data.


<< Back to Malware & Viruses.

<< Back to Support.