How To Take Out Computer Viruses
Written on by Kay
Virus Definitions, also known as Virus Signatures, are the individual identifiers that are used by anti-virus software to identify and neutralize virus software which attempts to infiltrate your PC system. When fighting the enemy – it helps to know what and who they are!
Viruses are usually unique, or, if similar, can be variants of one another. Whatever form they take, and however they work, they are designed with one, and only one thing in mind – the manipulation of your machine to serve the purposes of the person writing the virus programming code.
The purpose could be mischief – to some people it is highly amusing to destroy something which does not belong to them. To others, it could be a means of cheap advertising, such as in virus spam mail, where they piggy back off your expense account by getting your computer to send out spam mail on their behalf. Yet others have much more sinister aims, and attempt to infiltrate your system for the purpose of obtaining personal details such as banking account numbers, personal ID data, for purposes of criminal behavior, identity theft, or fraudulent transactions.
Viruses generally work behind the scenes – they arrive as hidden code on the backs of innocent looking emails, links which you are encouraged to click on in websites which you perceive to be safe (these are known as Trojans), and as hidden code in the form of downloadable programs such as games (malware). Spyware records what you look at, where you go when you surf, and sometimes your keystrokes, which endangers your security.
They spread like worms, via emails or file sharing, and send copies of themselves to others who you normally communicate with or have received emails from (all those In you’re address book). Sometimes viruses can work behind the scenes for long periods of time without the user even being aware of them. They may sap the processor, or they may just dance along in the background causing very little disturbance at all.
It pays to be aware of viruses and how they can negatively impact on your personal computer use, and in particular, your personal life.
Minimize the risk of identity theft and fraud by installing and maintaining anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware software on your personal computer. It doesn’t have to cost you much – plenty of effective freeware and shareware anti-virus programs exist and are available for you to download and use. Some recommendations include MS Security Essentials, AVG – Free Edition, and Malware Bytes
