The Internet is full of fun places and vast amounts of
information, but also some dangers. Your computer can be damaged by a computer
virus sent through E-mail or through a program downloaded from the Web. If you
do not use antivirus software, you run the risk of passing viruses along to
other computers as well.
A common mistake that people make when the topic of
computer virus arises is to refer to Worms & Torjan Horses as a Virus. While
all the three are malicious programs that can cause damage to you computer, They
are not exactly the same thing.
What are viruses, worms, and Trojan
horses?
What is a virus?
A virus is a program that can copy itself and infect various parts of your
computer, such as documents, programs, and parts of your operating system. Most
viruses attach themselves to a file or part of your hard disk and then copy
themselves to other places within the operating system. Some viruses contain
code that inflicts extra damage by deleting files or lowering your security
settings, inviting further attacks.
What is a worm?
A worm is a program that makes copies of itself and can spread outside your
operating system; it can copy itself from one computer to another by using
E-mail or another transport mechanism. Worms can damage
computer data and
security in much the same ways as viruses, but are different from viruses in
that they copy themselves from system to system.
What is a Trojan horse?
A Trojan horse is a harmless-looking program designed to trick you into
thinking it is something you want, but which performs harmful acts when it runs.
It is typically received through downloads from the Internet. Trojan horses do
not spread by themselves like viruses and worms. Most virus protection programs
only detect a limited number of Trojan horses. A good way to help protect your
computer from Trojan horses is to visit only Web sites you trust, and avoid
downloading things unless you trust the source as well.
How do antivirus programs help protect my computer?
Antivirus programs scan E-mail and other files on your computer for viruses,
worms, and Trojan horses. If a virus, worm, or Trojan horse is found, the
antivirus program either quarantines it or deletes it entirely before it damages
your computer and files.
Some companies that make antivirus programs provide regular updates for
viruses. Many antivirus programs have an automatic update capability. When your
antivirus software is updated, new viruses are added to a list of viruses to
check for, protecting your computer from new attacks. If your antivirus updates
are not automatic, we recommend that you check for updates on a frequent basis
because new viruses are identified every day. If the antivirus program you are
using requires a subscription, it is strongly recommended that you keep the
subscription current to receive regular updates. If your list of viruses is out
of date, your computer is vulnerable to new threats.
Where can I get an antivirus program?
It is strongly recommended that you help protect your computer from viruses,
worms, and Trojan horses by installing and using an antivirus program.
There are many antivirus programs on the market. For a partial list of
programs that are designed to work with Windows, visit the Windows Catalog on
the Microsoft Web site (
http://www.microsoft.com/).
ENJOY!!!
