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Computer
viruses plague our digital existence much like the flu or
the common cold does our physical existence. There
are "medicines" such as anti-virus software, and
ways of washing our hands such as not downloading unknown
attachments, but the risk of infection is always there, no
matter the precautions taken.
Every
year millions of people get the flu, even though there is
a flu vaccine available. The same occurs in the
digital world. Many
users are unaware of how to avoid getting computer
viruses. The
truth is you CAN protect your computer from infection.
Simply relying on anti-virus software will only
allow you to remove a virus once it has infected your
computer. I
suggest you take things a step further and ensure your
computer stays infection-free by implementing some
straightforward techniques explained on this site.
Computer Virus Information for the Internet public is provided in this section. You can also download free virus protection.
I will address issues regarding pc virus protection, including how to identify a hoax computer virus, how to fix a computer
virus, removing computer virus, and being aware of a computer virus warning. There's also free norton anti virus protection
via trial-ware.
This
is dedicated to our viral friends and will hopefully be
the beginning of the end for them as we educate ourselves
on prevention and learn simple proactive measures we can
incorporate into our computer-using habits.
Cerebro
What is anti-virus software?
Anti-virus software is the countermeasure program used to "inoculate" computer viruses. Computer viruses are programs that mimic the attributes of their real-world counterparts. Computer viruses replicate, cause damage to an otherwise healthy system, and can spread from host to host. Like real-world viruses, a computer virus needs a host, a means of transportation. In the digital world this can be in e-mail, other programs, or media (cd/floppy/tape). There is one caveat however - computer viruses need to be activated. Much the same way that carcinogens in our bodies won’t give us cancer unless they are activated, computer viruses need to be activated as well, usually via a click or open command.
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How does anti-virus software work?
Anti-virus software works in two ways. The first and the staple of the industry is based on signature files. When a computer virus is reported, the virus is examined and a signature file is created for inoculating the virus. This inoculation is added to the anti-virus software database (.dat file) and is used when scanning computers to identify and destroy viruses. Unfortunately this is a reactive process so someone has to be the guinea pig and get infected. The other more progressive way of identifying viruses is called heuristics. This method will be the future of the industry and is basically the only hope we have in eliminating computer viruses. Heuristics monitor all activity on your computer and if a program is "acting" like a virus, then a red flag is raised and it is destroyed or contained and reported. The biggest hurdle for advancement in this area is the difficulty of determining what constitutes virus-like activity. For instance, replication is a common attribute of virus activity, but there can also be valid replication, like in program association. During program association, programs check to see whether or not they are the default. If they are not and you want them to be, then the program will change all of the files, which is akin to replication.
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Why do I need anti-virus software?
Computer viruses are the most common threat in the digital world right now. If you don't have anti-virus software, you will eventually get a virus and probably lose data that you have had on your computer for years. If you have anti-virus software, not only can you save your data, but you’ll save yourself the migraine you'll get when you discover the havoc wreaked upon your computer by a virus, which could be as bad as an infection in your boot record or
BIOS, rendering your computer completely useless. Anti-virus software is worth every penny, giving you peace of mind and insurance against certain trouble.
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What should I look for when
purchasing anti-virus software?
There are
many different vendors of Anti-Virus software, and you are
probably wondering which one is the best. There is
unfortunately no simple answer to that question. Whatever
solution you choose for your computer, make sure of the
following specifications:
- The software can
automatically update itself
- The vendor
provides updated virus definitions regularly
- The software can
integrate into your email program
- Virus scans can be
scheduled to run automatically
- The software has a
proven track record
- The vendor
releases timely and accurate information about new
viruses
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Anti-virus
software recommendations
If you are unsure as to
which product to purchase you can look at the reviews
section or I personally prefer the Norton products.
Norton
Antivirus 2003 Professional Download - Only $9.95
Anti-Virus
Protection for PCs
Anti-Virus
Protection for Macs
Downloadable
Anti-Virus Protection
Multi-User
Anti-Virus Protection
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