subject: Common Files Usually Infected by Viruses [print this page] Common Files Usually Infected by Viruses Common Files Usually Infected by Viruses
Computer viruses can infect any file. However, viruses their most likely targets are data files and executable files. An example of a data file is a word processing document or a spreadsheet file. Executable files, on the other hand, are software programs that perform a function when executed. Whether the infection is in a data or executable file, a reliable antivirus firewall software application can easily detect the presence of viruses in files.
Some viruses are memory resident. That means that as the program is loaded into memory, the virus infiltrates and attaches itself into the memory of the computer. In this case it has the ability to infect any file found on the computer you are using. They can be stealth viruses. These kinds of viruses will attach themselves to the computer files first and attack the computer next. In this case, the viruses spread more rapidly than the normal spreading of the virus in the computer.
The first and most common executable files that viruses usually infect are EXE or COM files. These are known executable files. What happens when a file with either ".exe" or ".com" extension is clicked? The instructions encoded into the file will be executed and the program will perform its intended functions. For example, when you install a program, you need to run the installation executable file. Now, if a virus has injected its instruction set into the executable file, every time you run the executable, the virus' instruction set is also executed along with it.
Another file type commonly infested by viruses are BIN files. These are computer files that are encoded as binary or MacBinary. These compressed files store a finder header, resource fork and data fork. Aside from storing the finder header and data fork together, these make sure that these two are kept in one file.
The third kind of file that viruses tend to ride on are PIF or program information files, which are files that were developed in the days where Windows applications were still on their way to advancement. These files are designed to hold information essential for the MS-DOS application to know how to run a particular program in a Windows environment. The idea was that the data will inform the operating system the directions on how to run the application while using the least necessary amount of resources.
Although viruses can infect these common file types, a trustworthy antivirus firewall software program can easily spot the footprints of infection in those files. So, it is always a good idea to protect your computer with an antivirus program.
