| Just as people can feel sick due to a viral infection, a | | | | computer or network that is infected. |
| computer failure may possibly be caused by a | | | | Some common symptoms of an infected computer |
| computer virus. | | | | may be: |
| Computer viruses are described as a computer | | | | - inability to respond to certain programs |
| program that is able to duplicate itself and infect from | | | | - the task manager would not start |
| computer to computer without being detected. One | | | | - the antivirus (if there is any installed) shows an |
| possible reason that these viruses may not be | | | | indication of the virus |
| detected is that it disguises and takes on the form of | | | | - degradation in system performance (this may |
| a genuine program. Viruses are often modified and | | | | happen after opening an email message with a bizarre |
| rewritten in order to stay undetected. The computer | | | | attachment; watch out for attachments with double |
| viruses are transmitted when a host computer or an | | | | extensions like.jpg.vbs or.gif.exe) |
| infected computer carrying the virus to another | | | | - the antivirus would not be installed, if it is already |
| computer. There are two possible scenarios to | | | | pre-installed it would start nor function for no known |
| illustrate this. One is by sending it through a network or | | | | reason |
| the internet. The second one through the unsafe use | | | | - strange message boxes appear on the screen. |
| of removable disks and drives such as CD, DVDs and | | | | - there appears in the desktop some new icons which |
| flash memory drives. Infection rate becomes even | | | | were not recently installed or not associated with the |
| higher if the virus has infected the network file system | | | | already installed programs. |
| or a certain file that is also accessed by other | | | | - unexpected and strange sounds and music from the |
| computers in a network. | | | | speakers |
| An Antivirus software is an effective way of | | | | - sudden disappearance of programs and files |
| preventing infections from a computer virus. This | | | | To diagnose and recuperate from a computer virus |
| software must be regularly updated to be able to find | | | | infection, the following may be performed: |
| new and modified viruses. The damaging effects | | | | - Update you Antivirus software or program and |
| brought by a virus that has infected an email of a file | | | | perform a thorough scan of your computer files |
| may include: | | | | - Make sure you have install latest security patches |
| - The free space in the hard drive may be all used up | | | | from trusted websites and keep it up to date as often |
| by an infected file that continuously copies itself. | | | | as possible. |
| - Once a virus copies itself, chances are it may send a | | | | - If your current antivirus does not appear to be |
| copy of itself to all addresses in the email address list, | | | | working, reinstall a different and possibly better |
| thus increasingly spreading infection. | | | | antivirus and rescan your computer. |
| - All programs and files in the computer may all be | | | | - Formatting the hard disk or computer is often the |
| deleted as the virus may possibly reformat the disk | | | | best way to clean your computer of any virus. |
| drive. | | | | Particular of ones that cannot be fix or remove via the |
| - Hidden programs or pirated softwares can be | | | | anti virus software. Remember to backup your |
| installed, distributed and sold to and from the computer | | | | important files and ensure they are virus free to avoid |
| by the virus. | | | | any lost of your personal file or reinfecting your |
| - The virus may allow intruders to remotely access the | | | | computer later. |