Computer Virus Primer

Steve — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:48:20 +0000

A computer virus is similar to a virus that affects living organisms in that it can spread from computer to computer, infecting each new host with a small program that is intent on causing some kind of harm. The infection may be relatively harmless such as a prank popup display, or it can be extremely dangerous if its intent is to destroy all the data on your hard drive.
Staying true to its nature, a virus will also attempt to spread to other PCs by various means such as file sharing websites, thumb drives or email. A virus is typically very small and can imbed itself in already existing system files on your PC, or create innocent looking files or registry entries that are difficult to locate and destroy. Most viruses are also smart enough to resist many methods of removal.

There are several ways in which a virus can infect your system. Infected email attachments is the most common source of infection. These attachement may be an image, a document or just about any other type of file that can be attached to an email. Infections are also spread through internet file sharing and download sites.

Types of Threats

Worm – a self-replicating program which uses the system to send copies itself to other systems with no user intervention
Spyware – a program that becomes installed on a system which collects small bits of information about the system or user without their knowledge
Adware – a program that displays or downloads advertisements to a PC. The ads may appear as a popup, or may appear in a portion of the web browser
Malware – a broad term for a wide range of malicious software whose intent is to disrupt your system, gather information about the system or gain access to system resources. Malware is not necessarily the virus but is often the method of transmittal
Trojan Horse – a program that masquerades as a safe application yet contains malicious code that will cause an infection.
Rogue Software – decieving or misleading programs that trick users into paying for an unnecessary or fake security software

Antivirus Software

Programs that are designed to detect and remove or neutralize viruses are referred to as Antivirus Software. They work by periodically scanning your system for known viruses and also by monitoring all new files being added to your system.

How Can You Tell If Your PC Is Infected

The existence of one or more of the following may be an indication that your system is infected:

Random pop-ups- Unknown files or icons appearing on your desktop or other places when you did not install them
Files or icons disappearing from your system without you having uninstalled or moved them
Unusual error messages
Hardware devices (hard drives, CD Drives, etc) can no longer be accessed
Applications crash unexpectedly, run slowly or don’t start up at all
Your system becomes unstable and freezes or crashes frequently
Your system will not boot up at all

Virus Prevention

Prevention is the best approach to maintaining a healthy system. Installing a reputable Antivirus program is your first priority. The program you install must update itself frequently with files that contain lists and characteristics of the most recent viruses that are circlating. In addition to the Antivirus program, maintain healthy habits with regard to your online and email activities.- Never download attachments from email accounts that you do not know.

Only download files from trusted sites
ensure that you have a good firewall between your network and the internet
update your PC with the latest updates as they are released

Safe Surfing

Steve — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:16:59 +0000

My PC would be of little value to me if I couldn’t explore the internet. But the internet is filled with nasty places that want to do harm to both you and your PC. With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have a PC that can provide maximum enjoyment with minimal risk. Here are the 3 most important thing you must have for safe surfing:

- Updated Antivirus Program
- Updated Windows Defender
- Updated Common Sense

1. Anti Virus Program
Links are provided on the main page to two great, free antivirus programs. The main reasons I like these so much is that they don’t consume a lot of system resources and they are continuously updated. It’s basically a set and forget situation for ether one.

A quality antivirus program makes sure that your PC can detect and remove *most* threats that come your way.

UPDATE: Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

2. Windows Defender
Windows Defender protects your PC against spyware, malware and adware which can cause your PC to run erratically or even crash by detecting and removing known spyware from your PC. It also features real-time protection which works while you are online. Windows Defender updates itself very frequently through the Microsoft Update process.

Windows Defender is included with Vista and WIN7. It is available for XP here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=435BFCE7-DA2B-4A6A-AFA4-F7F14E605A0D&displaylang=en&mg_id=10134

UPDATE: Read about Microsoft Security Essentials here

3. Common Sense
You have to keep your eyes wide open to all possible sources of attacks on your PC. Threats can come from almost anywhere, but are mostly concentrated around certain types of sites. Sites to be cautious of are:

Online Gaming sites
File-Sharing sites
Social Networking sites
Adult content sites
etc.

Be careful when any window pops up asking you to click something. One of the most pervasive techniques that hackers use is to pop up a window that says that your PC has a virus and that you must “click here” to remove it. And when you click it, you open youself up to whatever is lurking. Sometimes, there will even be a button that looks like a common ‘close’ button, but in reality is another gotcha. To be safe, use the keyboard shortcut Alt-F4 to close the window safely.

Sometimes, even popular programs contain an option to also install a companion or affiliate program that can slow down your PC by monitoring your browsing habits in order to suggest similar sites that might interest you.

Here is a great article that discusses 6 essential tips to stay safe while online.

If you practice safe browsing habits and have good anti-virus/anti-spyware protection, the chances of your being attacked are greatly reduced.