subject: Pc Virus - How To Guide [print this page] What are PC Viruses? PC viruses are tiny programs that hide inside your PC and then copy themselves in some fashion to spread to other PCs. With the web connecting so many PCs to each other, and our disposition to share lots of our files with others, we unknowingly broadcast to other PCs viruses that have infected our own files. Dependent on the planning of the pathogen, once it reaches a PC, it can do pretty much anything from removing and corrupting your files, to disabling your PCs safety measures to make it more exposed to a hacker.
Kinds of Viruses PC Viruses can be split into many various classes ; Here are the commonest alongside a short rationalization of every one.
Direct Action Viruses The main objective of these viruses is to replicate themselves and take a particular action when they are run. When a pre-defined condition is met, the virus will spring into action and replicate itself. These viruses normally attach themselves to other files on your computer, so when the file is run - the virus is activated. Files infected with this type of virus can usually be fixed using anti-virus software.
Overwrite Viruses When this sort of virus infects a file, it removes all the info contained inside that file and then copies itself into it. Put simply, these will gut your files and then wear their garments. Files infected with this sort of pathogen become pointless and can't be recovered without restoring a prior backup.
Boot Viruses This type of virus infects the boot sector of your disk drives. The boot sector is a part of the disk that stores basic system information and is used to start your computer. These viruses are then loaded on boot-up. Please note that this kind of virus does not affect files. The best way to avoid boot viruses is to write-protect your floppy disks and never start your computer with an unknown floppy disk in the drive. Most antivirus programs can detect and remove these.
Macro Viruses Certain programs like MS Word, Excel, Access, and Powerpoint have the power to use tiny 'helper' programs to increase their functionality and automate repetitive jobs. These 'helper' programs are called macros and scripts and are stockpiled in the document files rather than the main programme. A macro pathogen is just a pathogen that hides out in these files and waits for you to open them with their various programs which then run the pathogen.
File Infectors This type of virus infects programs and/or executable files. Each time one of these programs runs, the virus is activated; the majority of existing viruses belong to this category, and are classified depending on the actions that they carry out. Think of these viruses as stowaways on your computer's files.
Choosing an Antivirus Software Antivirus software is one of the most important things you should have on your system. Many PC's come with this software pre-installed, but you should still take a few moments to familiarize yourself with it. There are many available antivirus programs currently on the market. Here, I've compiled some of the best retail and free antivirus solutions for you.
McAfee Antivirus McAfee gives a great antivirus solution. This US based company is perhaps the oldest antivirus development company in the world, and in this area experience is king, particularly when you are coping with hi-tech menaces.
Norton Antivirus Norton Antivirus, typically called Symantec Antivirus, is one of the finest antivirus solutions available, although it is also one of the most heavy, meaning your system may run slower after installing it, specifically if you have not upgraded recently.
AVG Much like Avast, AVG is a light, easy to manage antivirus package, automatically updated, and provides maybe the best shield protection you may need, without even noticing its presence.
