essay about computer viruses

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Computer viruses explained: Definition, types, and examples

This malicious software tries to do its damage in the background while your computer still limps along..

Computer virus definition

A computer virus is a form of malicious software that piggybacks onto legitimate application code in order to spread and reproduce itself.

Like other types of malware , a virus is deployed by attackers to damage or take control of a computer. Its name comes from the method by which it infects its targets. A biological virus like HIV or the flu cannot reproduce on its own; it needs to hijack a cell to do that work for it, wreaking havoc on the infected organism in the process. Similarly, a computer virus isn’t itself a standalone program. It’s a code snippet that inserts itself into some other application. When that application runs, it executes the virus code, with results that range from the irritating to the disastrous.

Virus vs. malware vs. trojan vs. worm

Before we continue a brief note on terminology. Malware is a general term for malicious computer code. A virus, as noted, is specifically a kind of malware that infects other applications and can only run when they run. A worm is a malware program that can run, reproduce, and spread on its own , and a Trojan is malware that tricks people into launching it by disguising itself as a useful program or document. You’ll sometimes see virus used indiscriminately to refer to all types of malware, but we’ll be using the more restricted sense in this article.  

What do computer viruses do?

Imagine an application on your computer has been infected by a virus. (We’ll discuss the various ways that might happen in a moment, but for now, let’s just take infection as a given.) How does the virus do its dirty work? Bleeping Computer provides a good high-level overview of how the process works. The general course goes something like this: the infected application executes (usually at the request of the user), and the virus code is loaded into the CPU memory before any of the legitimate code executes.

At this point, the virus propagates itself by infecting other applications on the host computer, inserting its malicious code wherever it can. (A resident virus does this to programs as they open, whereas a non-resident virus can infect executable files even if they aren’t running.) Boot sector viruses use a particularly pernicious technique at this stage: they place their code in the boot sector of the computer’s system disk, ensuring that it will be executed even before the operating system fully loads, making it impossible to run the computer in a “clean” way. (We’ll get into more detail on the different types of computer virus a bit later on.)

Once the virus has its hooks into your computer, it can start executing its payload , which is the term for the part of the virus code that does the dirty work its creators built it for. These can include all sorts of nasty things: Viruses can scan your computer hard drive for banking credentials, log your keystrokes to steal passwords, turn your computer into a zombie that launches a DDoS attack against the hacker’s enemies, or even encrypt your data and demand a bitcoin ransom to restore access . (Other types of malware can have similar payloads.)

How do computer viruses spread?

In the early, pre-internet days, viruses often spread from computer to computer via infected floppy disks. The SCA virus, for instance, spread amongst Amiga users on disks with pirated software . It was mostly harmless, but at one point as many as 40% of Amiga users were infected.

Today, viruses spread via the internet. In most cases, applications that have been infected by virus code are transferred from computer to computer just like any other application. Because many viruses include a logic bomb — code that ensures that the virus’s payload only executes at a specific time or under certain conditions—users or admins may be unaware that their applications are infected and will transfer or install them with impunity. Infected applications might be emailed (inadvertently or deliberately—some viruses actually hijack a computer’s mail software to email out copies of themselves); they could also be downloaded from an infected code repository or compromised app store.

One thing you’ll notice all of these infection vectors have in common is that they require the victim to execute the infected application or code. Remember, a virus can only execute and reproduce if its host application is running! Still, with email such a common malware dispersal method, a question that causes many people anxiety is: Can I get a virus from opening an email? The answer is that you almost certainly can’t simply by opening a message; you have to download and execute an attachment that’s been infected with virus code. That’s why most security pros are so insistent that you be very careful about opening email attachments, and why most email clients and webmail services include virus scanning features by default.

A particularly sneaky way that a virus can infect a computer is if the infected code runs as JavaScript inside a web browser and manages to exploit security holes to infect programs installed locally. Some email clients will execute HTML and JavaScript code embedded in email messages, so strictly speaking, opening such messages could infect your computer with a virus . But most email clients and webmail services have built-in security features that would prevent this from happening, so this isn’t an infection vector that should be one of your primary fears.

Can all devices get viruses?

Virus creators focus their attention on Windows machines because they have a large attack surface and wide installed base. But that doesn’t mean other users should let their guard down. Viruses can afflict Macs, iOS and Android devices, Linux machines, and even IoT gadgets. If it can run code, that code can be infected with a virus.

Types of computer virus

Symantec has a good breakdown on the various types of viruses you might encounter , categorized in different ways. The most important types to know about are:

• Resident viruses infect programs that are currently executing.
• Non-resident viruses , by contrast, can infect any executable code, even if it isn’t currently running
• Boot sector viruses infect the sector of a computer’s startup disk that is read first , so it executes before anything else and is hard to get rid of
• A macro virus infects macro applications embedded in Microsoft Office or PDF files. Many people who are careful about never opening strange applications forget that these sorts of documents can themselves contain executable code. Don’t let your guard down!
• A polymorphic virus slightly changes its own source code each time it copies itself to avoid detection from antivirus software.
• Web scripting viruses execute in JavaScript in the browser and try to infect the computer that way.

Keep in mind that these category schemes are based on different aspects of a virus’s behavior, and so a virus can fall into more than one category. A resident virus could also be polymorphic, for instance.

How to prevent and protect against computer viruses

Antivirus software is the most widely known product in the category of malware protection products. CSO has compiled a list of the top antivirus software for Windows , Android , Linux and macOS , though keep in mind that antivirus isn’t a be-all end-all solution . When it comes to more advanced corporate networks, endpoint security offerings provide defense in depth against malware . They provide not only the signature-based malware detection that you expect from antivirus, but antispyware, personal firewall, application control and other styles of host intrusion prevention. Gartner offers a list of its top picks in this space , which include products from Cylance, CrowdStrike, and Carbon Black.

One thing to keep in mind about viruses is that they generally exploit vulnerabilities in your operating system or application code in order to infect your systems and operate freely; if there are no holes to exploit, you can avoid infection even if you execute virus code. To that end, you’ll want to keep all your systems patched and updated, keeping an inventory of hardware so you know what you need to protect, and performing continuous vulnerability assessments on your infrastructure.

Computer virus symptoms

How can you tell if a virus has slipped past your defenses? With some exceptions, like ransomware, viruses are not keen to alert you that they’ve compromised your computer. Just as a biological virus wants to keep its host alive so it can continue to use it as a vehicle to reproduce and spread, so too does a computer virus attempt to do its damage in the background while your computer still limps along. But there are ways to tell that you’ve been infected. Norton has a good list ; symptoms include:

• Unusually slow performance
• Frequent crashes
• Unknown or unfamiliar programs that start up when you turn on your computer
• Mass emails being sent from your email account
• Changes to your homepage or passwords

If you suspect your computer has been infected, a computer virus scan is in order. There are plenty of free services to start you on your exploration: The Safety Detective has a rundown of the best.

Remove computer virus

Once a virus is installed on your computer, the process of removing it is similar to that of removing any other kind of malware—but that isn’t easy. CSO has information on how to remove or otherwise recover from rootkits , ransomware , and cryptojacking . We also have a guide to auditing your Windows registry to figure out how to move forward.

If you’re looking for tools for cleansing your system, Tech Radar has a good roundup of free offerings , which contains some familiar names from the antivirus world along with newcomers like Malwarebytes. And it’s a smart move to always make backups of your files , so that if need be you can recover from a known safe state rather than attempting to extricate virus code from your boot record or pay a ransom to cybercriminals.

Computer virus history

The first true computer virus was Elk Cloner , developed in 1982 by fifteen-year-old Richard Skrenta as a prank. Elk Cloner was an Apple II boot sector virus that could jump from floppy to floppy on computers that had two floppy drives (as many did). Every 50th time an infected game was started, it would display a poem announcing the infection.

Other major viruses in history include:

• Jerusalem : A DOS virus that lurked on computers, launched on any Friday the 13th, and deleted applications.
• Melissa : A mass-mailing macro virus that brought the underground virus scene to the mainstream in 1999. It earned its creator 20 months in prison.

But most of the big-name malware you’ve heard of in the 21st century has, strictly speaking, been worms or Trojans, not viruses. That doesn’t mean viruses aren’t out there, however—so be careful what code you execute.

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Josh Fruhlinger is a writer and editor who lives in Los Angeles.

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Intellectual abilities of artificial intelligence, openmind books, scientific anniversaries, edward o. wilson and island biodiversity, featured author, latest book, the history of computer viruses.

On November 10, 1983, a handful of seminar attendees at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, USA, heard for the first time the term “virus” applied to computing. The use of the word was strange. The virus that was then on everyone’s mind was the one isolated a few months earlier at the Pasteur Institute in Paris that could be the cause of a new disease called AIDS. In the digital world, talking about viruses was almost nonsense. The first PC had been launched on the market just two years earlier and only the most technologically informed were running an Apple II computer or one of its early competitors.

However, when on that day the graduate student from the University of Southern California Fred Cohen inserted a diskette into a VAX11/750 mainframe computer, the attendees noted how code hidden in a Unix program installed itself and took control in a few minutes , replicating and spreading to other connected machines, similar to a biological virus.

Cohen tells OpenMind that it was on November 3 when a conversation with his supervisor, Leonard Adleman, led to the idea of ​​giving the name of virus to that code capable of infecting a network of connected computers. The Cohen virus was simple: “The code for reproduction was perhaps a few lines and took a few minutes to write,” says the author. “The instrumentation and controls took almost a day.”

Cohen published his creation in 1984, in an article that began: “This paper defines a major computer security problem called a virus.” But though the extensive research of Cohen and Adleman in the specialized literature would draw attention to their existence, the truth is that before that first virus defined as such appeared, there had already been earlier cases.

Interactive timeline: A malware history

[+] Full screen

Catch me if you can

In 1971, Robert Thomas, from the company BBN, created Creeper , a program that moved between computers connected to ARPANET and that displayed the message “I’m the creeper: catch me if you can.” According to David Harley, IT security consultant and researcher for the ESET company, “in the research community, we usually consider the experimental program Creeper to be the first virus and/or worm.”

Moreover, a year before Cohen’s seminar, 15-year-old Rich Skrenta developed Elk Cloner, the first computer virus—not named that yet—that spread outside a laboratory. Skrenta created it as a joke for his friends, whose Apple II computers became infected by inserting a diskette with a game that hid the virus.

So, Cohen was not really the first one. But according what computer security expert Robert Slade explains to OpenMind, the special thing in Cohen’s case was not so much his programming as his method. “He was doing the original academic research on the concept; his structure of antiviral software is still comprehensive despite all the developments since.” Cohen also introduced an informal definition of virus: “a program that can infect other programs by modifying them to include a, possibly evolved, version of itself.”

Those first viruses were technological demonstrations. The motivation of their creators was research and their codes were not malicious. Cohen points out that the objective of his program was “to measure spread time, not to attack.” In the case of Creeper , it was about designing a mobile application that could move to the machine where the data resided, instead of going the other way. As the professor of Computer Science at the University of Calgary (Canada) John Aycock points out to OpenMind, computer viruses were born as “a natural product of human curiosity.” And as such, “their invention was inevitable.”

The first malicious codes

It was also inevitable that the first malicious codes would soon emerge. In 1986, Brain appeared, a virus created by two Pakistani brothers whose purpose was to punish the users of IBM computers who installed a pirated copy of software developed by them. However, the effects of Brain were slight and the virus included the contact information of its authors so that those affected could contact them and request a cure. Spread by means of diskettes, Brain reached international diffusion, giving rise to the birth of the first antivirus companies.

At the end of the 1980s, codes began to proliferate that erased data or disabled systems. In 1988, the worm created by Robert Morris infected many of the computers connected to the then nascent Internet, especially in research institutions, causing a drop in email services. Its effects were more damaging than anticipated by Morris himself, who became the first person to be prosecuted in the US under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.

In this way, so-called malware began to diversify into different families: worms are programs that move from one computer to another without hiding in another application, while Trojans are harmful programs with an innocent appearance. In 1995, WM/Concept appeared, which infected Word documents. “It opened the door for a plague of document-borne malware that dominated the threat landscape for several years after,” says Harley. The expert lists other typologies that have emerged over time, such as bots that manipulate other people’s systems to launch spam campaigns, send malware or denial of service attacks; or ransomware , codes that hijack a system and force the payment of a ransom, such as the recent case of WannaCry , which in May 2017 infected hundreds of thousands of computers in more than 150 countries.

To this threat landscape we must add the current media, such as social networks, which facilitate the expansion of malware. As explained to OpenMind by Jussi Parikka, expert in technological culture at the Winchester School of Art of the University of Southampton (United Kingdom) and author of Digital Contagions: A Media Archeology of Computer Viruses (2nd ed., Peter Lang Publishing, 2016), “the online platforms for communication and interaction are themselves part of the problem due to their various security issues.”

But despite the many headaches caused by the malware, experts point out that these developments can benefit other technologies. Cohen argues that “benevolent” viruses can, for example, be useful in maintaining and updating systems. “I think artificial life (reproducing programs) still have enormous potential, largely unrealized as of today,” he reflects. “History will tell, but I still hold hope that viral computation will be a benefit to humanity in the future.”

Javier Yanes

More publications related to this article, more about technology, artificial intelligence, digital world, visionaries, more publications about ventana al conocimiento (knowledge window), comments on this publication.

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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Computer — Computer Viruses

Computer Viruses

• Categories: Computer Viruses

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Published: Jan 29, 2019

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The anna kournikova worm, the melissa virus, crypto locker.

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Computer Viruses, Their Types and Prevention Research Paper

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Introduction

Types of virus, standard practices to prevent infection.

Computer viruses are somewhat similar to their organic counterparts since they function under the same principles of infecting a system they are introduced to and focus on replication. However, computer viruses are not a natural aspect of software programs; rather, they are purposefully created to carry out various functions, some of which are malicious in nature. Actions such as compromising the integrity of a computer’s security system, introducing flaws in the programming architecture to cause errors, or even cause the hardware to malfunction resulting in its destruction. These are only a few of the possible actions that a computer virus could be responsible for and, as such, show why it is necessary to know about the different types of viruses out there, how they can infect systems and what measures can a user take to either prevent infection or get rid of one.

Macro Virus

The infection vector of a macro virus is through programs that utilize macros such as.doc,.xls, or.ppp. While the extensions may not be familiar, they consist of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. A macro virus infects these files and spreads when it is shared across various emails and USB drives.

Memory Resident Virus

A memory-resident virus is one of the most resilient types of viruses out there since it resides in the RAM of the computer and comes out of stasis every time the computer’s OS is activated. As a result, it infects other open files leading to the spread of the virus.

A worm is a self-replicating virus that focuses on creating adverse effects on your computer. This can consist of deleting critical system files, overwriting program protocols, and taking up valuable CPU processing space. Worm infections are identifiable based on process errors happening all of a sudden as well as a noticeable decline in the performance of your computer.

Trojan viruses are aptly named since they stay hidden in a computer’s system subtly gathering information. Unlike works, the impact of trojans is rarely felt since their primary purpose is to collect information and transmit it to a predetermined location. Banking information, passwords, and personal details are what Trojans are usually after since this enables malicious hackers to use the information in identity theft as well as to illegally access online accounts and transfer funds.

Direct Action Viruses

This type of virus takes action once certain conditions have been met such as when they are executed by the user (i.e. opened or clicked). They are typically found in the system directory and infect the various therein; however, some varieties of direct action viruses tend to change location depending on how they were initially programmed.

While these are only a few examples, they do represent the various types of computer viruses out there and show why it is necessary to devise different methods of combating them.

Why is it Hard to Prevent the Creation of Computer Viruses?

The problem with computer viruses is that they are often created by people that are looking for exploits in computer systems. Since they are intentionally looking for “holes” in the security to use, it is not surprising that it is hard to create a truly impregnable system that can withstand all manner of computer viruses. The problem lies in the fact that computer viruses are not static entities; rather, they continue to evolve based on new programming architecture. This “evolution” is not the viruses itself evolving. Instead, it is the programmers themselves who create new viruses based on additional principles they learn as technology and in turn software development continues to improve. It is due to this that attempts at creating more efficient anti-virus prevention solutions are met with new types of viruses that try to circumvent them. The only way this practice were to stop altogether would be if all virus creation were to stop, an event that is highly unlikely to occur.

Install an Anti-Virus Software Program

One of the best ways of stopping infection is to install an anti-virus program (ex: McAffee, Symantec, Avast). They specialize in scanning programs, identifying a virus based on information from a database, isolating the file, and deleting it if possible. Do note that anti-virus programs are not infallible since new viruses are created almost every day and, as such, the battle between anti-virus companies and virus creators is never-ending.

Do Not Visit Suspicious Websites

Suspicious websites fall under the category of sites that have questionable content or lack the necessary SSL certificates or verifications. These sites often try to draw visitors via advertisements that indicate that free games can be downloaded from the site, or it has other types of content that a person would usually need to pay for to obtain. Torrent websites are often the most visited of these sites since they offer a wide variety of free content that has been illegally obtained by hackers. However, while it may be tempting to download different movies and games, some of these torrent files are often mixed with viruses that can compromise your system’s security. This can lead to instances of identity theft which can cost you several thousand dollars more than the original price of a movie or game that you illegally downloaded. Utilizing anti-virus programs and following the various instructions in this paper should result in a relatively low chance of your computer.

Be Wary of Foreign USB Drives

USB drives are a ubiquitous method for sharing information around campus; however, since people tend to share these drives among their friends, there are instances where an infection in one computer can rapidly spread to others from that single USB. It is due to circumstances such as these that computer owners need to be cautious with any USB drive that they accept. If you know that the drive has been continuously shared, you need to perform an anti-virus scan on it.

Complete System Reformating

In cases where a computer system has become unavoidably infected and has slowed CPU processes to a crawl due to junk data, it is often necessary to perform a complete system reformat. A system reformats consists of the OS and BIOS of the computer being erased and reinstalled. This helps to get rid of any viruses that remain and enables the computer to work properly again, though this is at the cost of all the files on the computer unless they have backups.

All in all, computer viruses can cause considerable damage if the proper precautions are not taken. Utilizing anti-virus programs and following the various instructions in this paper should result in a relatively low chance of your computer.

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Hi Friends! I am describing here about the Newstarads.com which I have faced some days ago in my computer system. I am just explaining here that what are the real malicious works of this virus when it attacks into your PC. Newstarads.com is a noxious site. The domain is related to a browser hijacker.

Nt1310 Unit 1

With widespread use of internet services, the network scale is expanding on daily basis and as the network scale increases so will the scale of security threats which can be applied to system connected to the network. Viruses and Intrusions are amongst most common threats that affects computer systems. Virus attacks can be controlled by proper antivirus installation and by keeping the antivirus up to date. Whereas any unauthorized access in the computer system by an intruder can be termed as Intrusion and controlled by IDS. Intruders can be grouped into two major categories which are external and internal Intruders.

Nt1330 Unit 5 Essay

This can help delete all the malware or malicious content on the computer’s system. This can be the only way to save a computer at times, for example if the memory storage has been filled up with worms that keep copying themselves until the system stops responding. If this is the case then deleting everything can be the easiest way to stop. Other times, the malware is not visible to the user allowing it to travel through the system’s hard drive and damage the files. It can also be disguised as useful files.

Unit 1 Virus Research Paper

What are viruses? An infective agent that typically consists of a DNA acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by a microscope, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host; viruses are smaller than any infectious bacterial particles. Viruses rely on the host cells they infect to reproduce. While outside of host cells, viruses are protein coats or capsids, sometimes inside a layer of film.

Nt1330 Unit 6 Attack

The Trojans attacks the network by modifying blocking and even delete data. The last attack that I will describing is Worms, worms and viruses are similar in the way how fast they spread through the network, worms also fill up the storage space with junk the result of this slows down the

Nt1330 Unit 3 Project Management Plan

Certain applications here at First World Bank Savings and Loan are mission-critical for our organization, we will want to monitor appropriate security lists maintained by their sponsoring groups. Linux has antivirus and anti-malware systems. Some of these systems are designed to minimize the risk of Linux as a malware carrier between Microsoft systems. But such systems also address malware written for Linux, such as rootkits, Trojan horses, worms, and more.

Smallpox Essay

Smallpox is a highly contagious and fatal disease that had a huge impact on the human population. It is thought to have been originated from India or Egypt at least 3,000 years ago. Smallpox is caused by two variations of the variola virus, variola major and variola minor. Variola major is the most common form of smallpox. It enters the body through the lungs and is carried to the internal organs.

Nt1310 Unit 3 Exercise 1

This unique characters, otherwise called signatures can be a byte pattern in the virus. This is usually done using the AV software, the AV software uses the signature obtained from the signature database to detect the malware, and when a match is gotten, the AV software then alerts and prompts the user to repair or remove the file. - - Heuristic-based Detection: unlike the signature based detection, the heuristic-based detection is mainly designed to detect previously undetected or unknown viruses. Heuristics based detection detect viruses based on how they behave; that is to say the heuristic blocks the action of a file that it’s not behaving the way it is known to behave using sandbox techniques from a heuristic scanner.. - - SQL (Structured Query Language) Injection is when malicious attackers make use of SQL statements to interact with a database.

Nt1330 Unit 5 Answers

Others ways to protect a computer from virus are: if you don’t know the sender of a message with an attachment, don’t open it; back up your files often to keep your data safe from virus; use routers and firewalls to monitor your computer activity and block unauthorized entries; disable macro security settings in working with Word or Excel to prevent running without permission.

Nt1330 Unit 3 Assignment 1 Computer Virus

First of all there are three of the same virus on the system that was scanned. That virus is called Win32/DH{eRUTxVzF3U} and it is one of the bad viruses that we do not want on our computers. The virus can replicate itself and attach and infect the files it attaches itself to. Once it starts to replicate itself that will take up space in your hard drive and make it so that you have less space for you to use. The virus can change the file that is in on or steal the information that inside that file, and it can send itself to other computers so that it will spread and continue replicating itself.

Motaba Virus Case Study Answers

OUTBREAK Questions: 1. When and where was the Motaba virus first discovered, and what did the government do in order to try and destroy it? The Motaba virus was first discovered in an Motaba River Valley, Zaire in a mercenary camp in 1967. The government sent two soldiers to bomb the camp and try to destroy it, so that the disease would not spread.

Essay On Measles

Measles: Measles is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. Virus lives in the throat of people and mucus of the nose with this infection. Physical contact, sneezing and coughing can spread the infection. Infected droplets of mucus can remain contagious and active for around two hours. Means that the virus can live outside the body .

Informative Essay On Influenza

In the US, up to 64 million people are infected with influenza every year with 51 thousand cases resulting in death. (Treanor) The fever, runny nose, and body aches keep Americans curled up in their bed, miserable, all week. You try to do everything you can to isolate yourself from the virus, but somehow it always finds a way to get you sick. It seems like it is the same routine every year of taking days off work or completing make up work for school.

Essay On Cyberwarfare

Cyber threats continue to plague governments and businesses around the world. Cyberwarfare is Internet-based conflict involving politically motivated attacks on information and information systems. Normally there are two purposes of Cyberwarfare, espionage or sabotage. Cyberwarfare attacks can disable official websites and networks, disrupt or disable essential services, steal or alter classified data, and cripple financial systems. Cyber operations can also aide military operations, such as intelligence gathering and information warfare.

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• Computer Viruses Essays

Computer Viruses Essays (Examples)

388+ documents containing “computer viruses” .

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Computer viruses a quantitative analysis.

This report will hopefully pull together the research available with regard to this issue, and also identify what users are most at risk for virus attacks. The research currently available also confirms that modern viruses are becoming more insidious and complex, with the potential to incur more damage to computers and data than in the past. Studies suggest that newer versions of viruses may escape detection using standard anti-viral software. This presents a new threat to computer users that must be addressed, hence it is more important than ever that effective methods of prevention and control are designed to prevent future data loss. Methodology Design of the Study The research study takes into consideration multiple factors when deciding the methodology. The history of viruses, positive and negative effects, organizational impacts, etc. will all be examined. These factors will be measured using a variety of techniques including field research that will involve collecting data….

Hickman, J.R. (1995). "Viruses: New strains, new solutions." ABA Banking Journal,

Hopkins, W. (000). "Quantitative Research." Sports Science. 30, October 2005:  http://www.sportsci.org/jour/0001/wghdesign.html 

Horn, R.V. (2003). "Technology: Prudent computing." Phi Delta Kapan, 85(3): 183.

Hunton, J.E. (1998). "Facts and fables about computer viruses." Journal of Accountancy,

Computer Terrorism According to Weimann

Hacking, the apolitical counterpart of hacktivism, is also not necessarily a form of terrorism. However, cyberterrorists often use hacking as a tool of terrorism. Terrorists may be tempted to use computer attacks for several reasons including the following. First, cyberterrorism can be relatively inexpensive. Second, terrorists can easily remain anonymous when they use computer terrorism. Third, the scope of the attack can potentially be larger than physically combative ones. Fourth, cyberterror can be launched and managed remotely and fifth, computer terrorism can garner instant and widespread media attention. Cyberterrorism is not only in the province of international terrorist organizations but may also be used by fanatical religious groups or even by disgruntled employess. Using computer terrorism can also become an adjunct to traditional forms of terror like bombs. The National Security Agency (NSA) has investigated vulnerabilities in their own systems and have hired hackers to expose weaknesses in their systems. Governmental….

Weimann, G. (2004). Cyberterrorism: How Real Is the Threat? United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved April 17, 2007 at  http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr119.html

Computer Is a Device That Accepts Information

computer is a device that accepts information in the form of digitalized data and manipulates it for some result based on a program or sequence of instructions on how the data is to be processed. Used the right way, computers can be an enormous personal and business productivity tool for automating numerous routine tasks and increasing information storage, retrieval and exchange. Unfortunately, computers also facilitate and expand crime. Computer crime pertains to any intentional or unintentional harm done to or with information and/or hardware that may result in losses of, or injury to, property, services, and people. Many crimes involving computers are no different from crimes without computers. Some examples include: Using a computer and peripherals for forgery or counterfeiting is the same crime as using an old-fashioned printing press with ink. Stealing a laptop computer with proprietary information is the same crime as stealing a briefcase that contains papers with proprietary….

Bibliography

Eder, Karen. Defining Computer Crime and Technology Misuse." Technology Studies in Education Research Portal. 23 Nov. 2003. http://lrs.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/crime/definition.htm.

Standler, Ronald B. "Computer Crime." 2002.

23 Nov. 2003.  http://www.rbs2.com/ccrime.htm .

TechTarget. 23 Nov. 2003.  http://searchwin2000.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,sid1_gci211829,00.html .

Computer Networks and Terrorism

Cyber Terrorism: The Greatest isk in the U.S. Tremendous technological advancements have been made in the last few decades. Today, humans depend more on computer networks and information technology (IT) systems than on other means for information. From business to government, computer networks are relied upon to store, process, retrieve, and transfer critical information. Increased dependence on computer networks has, however, posed a major threat. Cyber terrorism is now arguably the biggest threat facing the U.S. (Harress, 2014; Thomas, 2016). Attacks against computer networks via computer viruses, worms, malware, and hacking have become increasingly common. The attacks are directed to information systems and infrastructures that support critical processes such as defense, transportation, banking, and energy production. This threatens the country's social, economic, and political stability. Nonetheless, there are often assertions that the risk of cyber terrorism is not as pervasive or substantial as often portrayed. Though there could be some truth….

Caplan, N. (2013). Cyber War: The Challenge to National Security. Global Security Studies, 4(1), 93-115.

Chen, T., Jarvis, L., & Macdonald, S. (2014). Cyberterrorism: understanding, assessment, and response. New York: Springer.

Geers, K. (2012). Strategic Cyber Defense: Which Way Forward? Journal of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, 9(1), 1-10.

Harress, C. (2014, February 2). Obama says cyberterrorism is country's biggest threat, U.S. government assembles "cyber warriors." International Business Times. Retrieved from:  http://www.ibtimes.com/obama-says-cyberterrorism-countrys-biggest-threat-us - government-assembles-cyber-warriors-1556337

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Information technology and related systems provide multiple benefits to business, government, and individual users. Databases, Internet transactions, and emails contain sensitive customers, employee and operations data that are extremely vulnerable. The following study focuses on various components of IT and related systems used for the storage of information like computers, servers, and website databases. Whilst identifying the ways the date can be compromised and exposed to abuse, the study identifies ways of protecting and enhancing their integrity. Types of information systems that that hold data Computers Computers do their primary work in parts that are not visible when using them. To do this, a control center that converts data input to output must be present. All this functions are done by the central processing unit (CPU) a highly complicated set of electric circuits that intertwine to store and achieve program instructions. Most computers regardless of the size must contain….

Adikesavan, T.A. (2014). Management Information Systems Best Practices and Applications in Business. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

Bradley, T. (2006). Essential Computer Security: Everyone's Guide to Email, Internet, and Wireless Security: Everyone's Guide to Email, Internet, and Wireless Security. New York: Syngress

Khosrowpour M. (2006). Emerging Trends and Challenges in Information Technology Management: 2006 Information Resources Management Association International Conference, Washington, DC, USA, May 21-24, 2006 Volume 1. Washington: Idea Group Inc. (IGI)

Kim, D. & Solomon, M. (2010). Fundamentals of Information Systems Security. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Ethics of Virus Research Self-Replicating

Intent to perform a greater good would not affect the possibility of being exposed to a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, plus possible penalties under state law. Montana compares this legislation with that of the regulation of firearms. It is not the mere possession of malicious code that is criminalized, but the use and the damage to computer systems and association economic losses that are the focal point of the law. Computer code, even MMC, is considered intellectual property and carries legal protections similar to books or sound recordings. It is also considered a form of speech and therefore is also offered protection under the Constitution's First Amendment. However, this protection is limited, just as 'free speech' is limited, especially in instances when this speech interferes with the protection of the public welfare -- as is the case with the release….

Works Cited

Ford, R., Bush, M., & Boulatov, a."Internet Instability and Disturbance: Goal or Menace?" Proceedings of the 2005 Workshop on New Security Paradigms. 2005: p. 3-8.

Frohmann, B. "Subjectivity and Information Ethics." Journal of the American Society for Information Science & Technology. 59(2) Jan 2008: p. 267-277.

Johnson, M. & Rogers, K. "The Fraud Act 2006: The E-Crime Prosecutor's Champion or the Creator of a New Inchoate Offence?" International Review of Law, Computers & Technology. 21(3) Nov 2007: p.. 295-304.

Ledin, G. "Not Teaching Viruses and Worms is Harmful." Communications of the ACM. 48(1) Jan 2005: p. 144.

New Computer's Technology the Emergence

These days, every new computer technology provides many benefits to different kinds of organizations. eing very much in demand in schools, new computer technologies prepare the students in facing the challenges of their future - a future that will certainly be made more advanced by new computer technologies. Another is the importance of new computer technologies in different kinds of industries as they make almost all tasks be completed more quickly and more accurately. Moreover, competition of organizations belonging to same industry seems to rely on who has the latest technology. Whoever has the latest computer technology has the edge of winning clients and being the first to succeed as well. New computer technologies play important role in the life of humans. They can be learning tools, productivity tools, communication tools, and entertainment tools. As new computer technologies are continuously being developed, it can be expected that change will be constant….

Geuder, M. (2000). New Computer Technology Aids Hearing-Impaired MSU Student.

Retrieved on November 17, 2006, from Online.

Web site:  http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=1214 

Ruane, M.E. (1999). New Computer Technology Makes Hacking a Snap.

Computers for the Organization All Three Are

computers for the organization. All three are high-end ultra-slim laptops for the sales force. These are compared according to a number of key variables -- weight, size, performance, memory, communications, power, software, operating system and price. The three models are the MacBook Air, the Toshiba Portege R830 and the Samsung Series 9. A recommendation is made at the end of the paper. This essay will compare three different computer models for the organization to meet its needs. It is assumed that the computer chosen will have a high need for portability and performance, so the focus is going to be on three high-end lightweight laptops. They are the MacBook Air, the Toshiba Portege R830 and the Samsung Series 9. They will be evaluated on a number of different metrics and considerations. eight and Size Each of the three computers has a 13.3" widescreen display. The material that is used is different for….

Works Cited:

Samsung Series 9:  http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP900X3A-A03US-specs 

Toshiba Portege R830:  http://us.toshiba.com/computers/laptops/portege/R830/R830-S8332 

Apple MacBook Air:  http://www.apple.com/macbookair/

Computers Have Changed Lives Opening

privacy. There's also the issue of speed and response that each of these devices imply and the expectations of those that are members of social networks, keeping mind these social networks could be the departments they work in for their jobs. Even the iPod has this speed of response inherent within it from having the continual stream of new songs copied onto it for use during commuting, working out and working. The advent of social networking sites that are accentuating the speed of response include Twittr and others, which support messaging to PCs, hybrid MP3 players and smart phones. Inherent in the social network that is fostering the growth of these technologies that provide options for collaborating and connecting more than ever before is the implied expectation that once someone is contacted they will respond immediately. The urgency of the immediate often overtakes the importance of the longer-term more introspective….

Gul Agha. "COMPUTING in PERVASIVE CYBERSPACE. " Association for Computing Machinery. Communications of the ACM 51.1 (2008): 68-70. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest.. 28 Apr. 2008 / www.proquest.com.

Josh Bernoff, Charlene Li. "Harnessing the Power of the Oh-So-Social Web. " MIT Sloan Management Review 49.3 (2008): 36-42. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 28 Apr.2008 www.proquest.com.

Robin Snow. "Rethinking the Web. " Marketing Health Services 26.2 (2006): 35-37. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 28 Apr. 2008 www.proquest.com

Cynthia G. Wagner. "Disconnectivity Demonstrated. " the Futurist 42.2 (2008): 68. ABI/INFORM Global. ProQuest. 29 Apr. 2008 www.proquest.com

Computer Used by the Employee Has Either

computer used by the employee has either been compromised physically with a password cracking software (EC-Council,2010;Beaver & McClure,2010) or it has bee compromised remotely with the help of a keylogging software.A keylogger is noted by APWG (2006) as a special crimeware code that is designed with the sole intention of collecting information from the end-user terminal. The stolen information includes every strike of the keyboard which it captures.The most sensitive of the captured information are the user's credentials. Keylogger may also be used to refer to the hardware used for this purpose. The employee's password could also have been shoulder-surfed by his immediate neighbor at the workplace. This could be his coworker who manages to peek and see over his shoulder as he types in sensitive authentication information (password) Strategy to address the issue as well as the necessary steps for resolving the issue The strategy for addressing this threat is….

Anti-Phising Working Group (2006). Phishing Activity Trends Report

http://www.antiphishing.org/reports/apwg_report_feb_06.pdf

Bem, D and Huebner, E (2007).Computer Forensic Analysis in a Virtual Environment. International Journal of Digital Evidence .Fall 2007, Volume 6 (2)

 http://www.utica.edu/academic/institutes/ecii/publications/articles/1C349F35-C73B-DB8A-926F9F46623A1842.pdf

Computers Internet General

Business Internet Dot.com Comparison of a Leader and an Upstart Red Hat.com vs. Microsoft.com Two prominent dot.com companies within the same industry of recent note may be found in the competing personages of Red Hat Software and the successful brand name of Microsoft. Although Red Hat Software is not nearly as well-known as the Titanic brand name of Microsoft, it offers an interesting and different software business perspective to Microsoft's better-known strategy business. Of course, it should be noted that, as Red Hat is the world's premier open source and Linux provider that it is not exactly tiny in its stretch as a company. However, it does not have nearly the status of industry leader as Microsoft, or, more importantly, that company's well-known status as a brand name and purveyor of technology and software. Microsoft's business strategy is in line with many typical technological vendor models. It attempts to generate business by essentially making….

Networking Computers

Computer Networking In today's society, more people and businesses rely on computers and networks to store vital information and technology. Networking is the process of moving information via computers rather than via any other medium, such as paper media or mere human communication. In addition to sharing information via networks, computers can share hardware, e.g., laser printers, and software in the networking process. This can save businesses and individuals large sums of money. The computers or devices on a network are often referred to as "nodes." To visualize a network, the easiest image is that of two computers hooked together by a cable, transmitting information between the two machines. There are actually a variety of kinds of networks, e.g., local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (ANs). LAN is a relatively localized network: LAN is a high-speed data network that covers a relatively small geographic area. It typically connects workstations, personal computers, printers, servers, and other….

Computer Networking." ComputerNetworking.com. July 4, 2002.  http://compnetworking.about.com/library/glossary/bldef-ipaddress.htm .

CERT Coordination Center, "Home Network Security." Cert.org. July 4, 2002  http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/home_networks.html#III-A .

Gilbert, H., "Introduction to TCP/IP," Yale.edu. February 6, 1995. Yale University. July 6, 2002  http://www.yale.edu/pclt/COMM/TCPIP.HTM .

IBM Redbook Abstract, "TCP/IP Tutorial and Technical Overview." IBM.com. July 5, 2002. IBM, Inc.  http://publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/RedbookAbstracts/gg243376.html?Open .

Protecting Data Against Viruses Company

The owner remarked about how important it is to guard one's system against viruses and intrusion. He went further to remark that there are programs that offer their services free of charge (partial programs or trial versions) to protect one's computer, but he recommends buying a program that offers full protection. This statement concluded the interview "Unfortunately my customers have often learned the importance of protecting their information the hard way; it is not something to be taken lightly." This statement makes a lot of sense. Too often a person will sit back thinking that it is impossible for something to happen to them, when in fact one should always be prepared for the unexpected. The owner of Company Xtreme reported that approximately 50% of his customers are individuals whom have had viruses on there computer. Among this 50%, they also have spyware, which often may allow strangers access….

Norton Anti-Virus Made by Symantec

ith the sophistication of computer users generally increasing, the corporate market forms an important part of the customer base as these users are a more captive audience. One sale to an it department can be worth hundreds of licenses. However, Norton is weak in the corporate market and competes mainly in the consumer market at present. Demand for Norton products is declining. hile Symantec overall has continued to grow in size, acquisitions and other business segments have spurred this growth (2009 Symantec Form 10-K). From 2007 to 2008, Norton revenue grew 7.2%, but the market share declined as the overall security software market increased 19.4% by revenue (Gartner, 2009). The market is trending towards increased fragmentation. The share of minor players in the industry has increased from 48% of the market in 2007 to 50.9% of the market in 2008. McAfee has increased its market share slightly, while each of….

Gartner Inc. (2009). Symantec market share falls; McAfee's shows growth. The Windows Club. Retrieved March 16, 2010 from  http://www.thewindowsclub.com/symantec-market-share-falls-mcafees-shows-growth 

2009 Symantec Form 10-K. Retrieved March 16, 2010 from http://phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MzQ3OTU4fENoaWxkSUQ9MzM2NTY1fFR5cGU9MQ==&t=1

Trefis. (2010). Comcast deal can slow Symantec's market share declines. Trefis.com. Retrieved March 16, 2010 from  http://www.trefis.com/articles/11016/comcast-and-quest-deals-could-plug-symantec%E2%80%99s-market-share-declines-temporarily/2010-03-04 

Weiner, K. (2009). Symantec and McAfee is arms race in PC security market. Neowin.net. Retrieved March 16, 2010 from  http://www.neowin.net/news/symantec-and-mcafee-in-arms-race-for-security

Various Computer Related Laws

Contending With Cybercrime Issues Attacks and Malware There are numerous laws pertaining to identity theft, privacy, and cybercrime. Prior to designating those laws and their ramifications for the parties involved with a breach, it is sapient to provide a brief overview of the correlation between these three facets of laws. One of the more common means of engaging in identity theft is through the means of cybercrime, in which individuals typically hack into a computerized systems and take personally identifiable information of others and use it for their own illicit purposes. Additionally, such crimes intrinsically invade the privacy of others and intrude upon that privacy by preventing individuals to keep personally identifiable information and other aspects of their lives private. One of the most salient of the laws relating to these three different aspects of theft in contemporary times is the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. This law not only….

North Carolina Department of Justice. (2005). Cooper proposes identity theft protection act of 2005.  http://www.ncdoj.gov  / Retrieved from

Education - Computers

This report will hopefully pull together the research available with regard to this issue, and also identify what users are most at risk for virus attacks. The research currently…

Hacking, the apolitical counterpart of hacktivism, is also not necessarily a form of terrorism. However, cyberterrorists often use hacking as a tool of terrorism. Terrorists may be tempted to…

computer is a device that accepts information in the form of digitalized data and manipulates it for some result based on a program or sequence of instructions on…

Research Paper

Cyber Terrorism: The Greatest isk in the U.S. Tremendous technological advancements have been made in the last few decades. Today, humans depend more on computer networks and information technology (IT)…

Computer Fraud and Abuse Act Information technology and related systems provide multiple benefits to business, government, and individual users. Databases, Internet transactions, and emails contain sensitive customers, employee and operations…

Intent to perform a greater good would not affect the possibility of being exposed to a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of up…

These days, every new computer technology provides many benefits to different kinds of organizations. eing very much in demand in schools, new computer technologies prepare the students in facing…

computers for the organization. All three are high-end ultra-slim laptops for the sales force. These are compared according to a number of key variables -- weight, size, performance,…

privacy. There's also the issue of speed and response that each of these devices imply and the expectations of those that are members of social networks, keeping mind these…

computer used by the employee has either been compromised physically with a password cracking software (EC-Council,2010;Beaver & McClure,2010) or it has bee compromised remotely with the help of…

Business Internet Dot.com Comparison of a Leader and an Upstart Red Hat.com vs. Microsoft.com Two prominent dot.com companies within the same industry of recent note may be found in the competing personages…

Computer Networking In today's society, more people and businesses rely on computers and networks to store vital information and technology. Networking is the process of moving information via computers rather than…

The owner remarked about how important it is to guard one's system against viruses and intrusion. He went further to remark that there are programs that offer their…

ith the sophistication of computer users generally increasing, the corporate market forms an important part of the customer base as these users are a more captive audience. One…

Contending With Cybercrime Issues Attacks and Malware There are numerous laws pertaining to identity theft, privacy, and cybercrime. Prior to designating those laws and their ramifications for the parties involved with…

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What Is a Computer Virus?

Table of contents, types of computer viruses, what causes computer viruses, how do computer viruses work, how do viruses spread, what is a computer worm, what does a computer virus do, computer viruses vs. malware, signs of computer virus, examples of computer virus, how to remove a computer virus, how to prevent computer viruses, computer virus definition.

A computer virus is an ill-natured software application or authored code that can attach itself to other programs, self-replicate, and spread itself onto other devices. When executed, a virus modifies other computer programs by inserting its code into them. If the virus’s replication is successful, the affected device is considered “infected” with a computer virus.

The malicious activity carried out by the virus’s code can damage the local file system, steal data, interrupt services, download additional malware, or any other actions the malware author coded into the program. Many viruses pretend to be legitimate programs to trick users into executing them on their devices, delivering the computer virus payload.

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Every computer virus has a payload that performs an action. The threat actor can code any malicious activity into the virus payload, including simple, innocuous pranks that don’t do any harm. While a few viruses have harmless payloads, most of them cause damage to the system and its data. There are nine main virus types, some of which could be packaged with other malware to increase the chance of infection and damage. The nine major categories for viruses on computers are:

Boot Sector Virus

Your computer drive has a sector solely responsible for pointing to the operating system so that it can boot into the interface. A boot sector virus damages or controls the boot sector on the drive, rendering the machine unusable. Attackers usually use malicious USB devices to spread this computer virus. The virus is activated when users plug in the USB device and boot their machine.

Web Scripting Virus

Most browsers have defenses against malicious web scripts, but older, unsupported browsers have vulnerabilities allowing attackers to run code on the local device.

Browser Hijacker

A computer virus that can change the settings on your browser will hijack browser favorites, the home page URL, and your search preferences and redirect you to a malicious site. The site could be a phishing site or an adware page used to steal data or make money for the attacker.

Resident Virus

A virus that can access computer memory and sit dormant until a payload is delivered is considered a resident virus. This malware may stay dormant until a specific date or time or when a user performs an action.

Direct Action Virus

When a user executes a seemingly harmless file attached to malicious code, direct-action viruses deliver a payload immediately. These computer viruses can also remain dormant until a specific action is taken or a timeframe passes.

Polymorphic Virus

Malware authors can use polymorphic code to change the program’s footprint to avoid detection. Therefore, it’s more difficult for an antivirus to detect and remove them.

File Infector Virus

To persist on a system, a threat actor uses file infector viruses to inject malicious code into critical files that run the operating system or important programs. The computer virus is activated when the system boots or the program runs.

Multipartite Virus

These malicious programs spread across a network or other systems by copying themselves or injecting code into critical computer resources.

Macro Virus

Microsoft Office files can run macros that can be used to download additional malware or run malicious code. Macro viruses deliver a payload when the file is opened and the macro runs.

Computer viruses are standard programs; instead of offering useful resources, these programs can damage your device. Computer viruses are typically crafted by hackers with various intentions, like stealing sensitive data to causing chaos in systems. Some hackers create these malicious programs for fun or as a challenge, while others have more sinister motives like financial gain or cyber warfare.

Hackers may exploit weak points in an operating system or app to acquire unapproved access and power over a user’s machine to achieve their goals.

• Ego-driven: Some virus authors seek fame within the hacker community by creating destructive or widespread viruses that garner media attention.
• Cybercrime: Hackers often use computer viruses as tools for ransomware attacks, identity theft, and other forms of online fraud.
• Sabotage: In some cases, disgruntled employees create computer viruses to intentionally damage their employer’s infrastructure.
• Cyber espionage: State-sponsored hackers may develop advanced persistent threats (APTs) using custom-made malware designed for long-term infiltration into targeted networks.

For a threat actor to execute a virus on your machine, you must initiate execution. Sometimes, an attacker can execute malicious code through your browser or remotely from another network computer. Modern browsers have defenses against local machine code execution, but third-party software installed on the browser could have vulnerabilities that allow viruses to run locally.

The delivery of a computer virus can happen in several ways. One common method is via a phishing email . Another technique is hosting malware on a server that promises to provide a legitimate program. It can be delivered using macros or by injecting malicious code into legitimate software files.

At their core, computer viruses are discreet programs that hitch a ride on other files or applications. In most cases, their primary objective is to replicate and spread like wildfire.

Computer viruses function as malicious software programs designed to infect other programs by modifying them in some way. In doing so, a virus will attach itself to an unsuspecting file or application in order to spread.

The Infection Process

A virus can attach itself to any legitimate program or document that supports macros to execute its code, such as an email attachment or a file download from a website. Once the file is opened or downloaded, the virus springs into action and starts executing.

Hiding in Plain Sight

Computer viruses can be quite crafty to remain hidden from both users and antivirus software alike. Viruses employ stealth techniques such as polymorphism, which changes their appearance, or encryption methods.

The Damage Done

Once activated, a virus may wreak havoc on your computer system. It can steal sensitive data, corrupt files, slow down performance, and even crash your entire system. It can spread from system to system after a user takes action that either intentionally or accidentally facilitates it.

It’s important to note that viruses are just one type of malware, and many other types of malicious software can harm your computer or steal your personal information.

Proofpoint Threat Response

No defense can stop every attack

Computer viruses spread through various channels, and being aware of these channels is essential to protect yourself and your organization from infection.

Email Attachments

One method of virus transmission is through email attachments. Hackers often disguise their malicious code as seemingly harmless files, such as documents or images unsuspecting users open without a second thought. For example, Ursnif banking Trojan campaigns are known to spread via email attachments posing as invoices or financial statements.

Internet Downloads

Viruses can also hide in software installers, media files, or even browser extensions that you download from the web. It’s important to be cautious when downloading files from unknown sources or sketchy websites. A notorious case was the Download.com scandal, where popular applications were bundled with adware and other unwanted programs by default.

File Sharing Networks

File sharing networks like torrent sites and peer-to-peer platforms can easily transmit viruses. Innocent-looking movie torrents or cracked software may carry hidden payloads designed to compromise your device upon installation. For example, The Pirate Bay used a browser-based cryptocurrency miner, so when someone visited the website, their computer was used to mine cryptocurrency without their knowledge or consent.

Removable Media

Viruses can attach to removable media, such as USB drives and CDs/DVDs, infecting any computer they’re plugged into. The infamous Stuxnet worm is a prime example of a virus that spreads through removable media.

To protect yourself and your organization from computer viruses, always exercise caution and employ robust cybersecurity measures like up-to-date antivirus software and regular system scans. Remember, knowledge is power, especially when preventing viruses and cyber-attacks.

A computer worm is a type of malware designed to replicate itself to spread to other computers. Unlike computer viruses, worms do not require a host program to spread and self-replicate. Instead, they often use a computer network to spread themselves, relying on security failures on the target computer to access it.

Once a worm infects a computer, it uses that device as a host to scan and infect other computers. When these new worm-infested computers are compromised, the worm continues to scan and infect other computers using these computers as hosts. Worms operate by consuming heavy memory and bandwidth loads, resulting in overloaded servers, systems, and networks.

The way a computer virus acts depends on how it’s coded. It could be something as simple as a prank that doesn’t cause any damage, or it could be sophisticated, leading to criminal activity and fraud. Many viruses only affect a local device, but others spread across a network environment to find other vulnerable hosts.

A computer virus that infects a host device continues delivering a payload until it’s removed. Most antivirus vendors offer small removal programs that eliminate the virus. Polymorphic viruses make removal difficult because they change their footprint consistently. The payload could be stealing data, destroying data, or interrupting services on the network or the local device.

While overlapping in intention and meaning, malware and viruses are two distinct terms that are often used interchangeably.

Malware is a general term for any type of malicious software, while a virus is a specific type of malware that self-replicates by inserting its code into other programs. While viruses are a type of malware, not all malware is a virus.

Malware can take many forms, including viruses, worms, trojans, spyware , adware, and ransomware, and it can be distributed through infected websites, flash drives, emails, and other means. A virus requires a host program to run and attaches itself to legitimate files and programs. It causes a host of malicious effects, such as deleting or encrypting files, modifying applications, or disabling system functions.

Malware authors write code that is undetectable until the payload is delivered. However, like any software program, bugs could present issues while the virus runs. Signs that you have a computer virus include:

• Popup windows, including ads (adware) or links to malicious websites.
• Your web browser home page changes, and you did not change it.
• Outbound emails to your contact list or people on your contact list alert you to strange messages sent by your account.
• The computer crashes often, runs out of memory with few active programs or displays the blue screen of death in Windows.
• Slow computer performance even when running few programs or the computer was recently booted.
• Unknown programs start when the computer boots or when you open specific programs.
• Passwords change without your knowledge or your interaction on the account.
• Frequent error messages arise with basic functions like opening or using programs.

The web contains millions of computer viruses, but only a few have gained popularity and infect record numbers of machines. Some examples of widespread computer viruses include:

• Morris Worm – One of the earliest and most pervasive computer virus examples, this self-replicating computer program spread through the early Internet in 1988, slowing down or crashing many machines.
• Nimda – This particular type of worm targeted web servers and computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems, spreading through multiple infection vectors in 2001.
• ILOVEYOU – A highly destructive worm that spread via email, disguised as a love confession and caused widespread damage in 2000 by overwriting files.
• SQL Slammer – A fast-spreading computer worm that exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server, causing network congestion and disrupting Internet services in 2003.
• Stuxnet – A sophisticated worm designed to target and sabotage industrial control systems, particularly Iran’s nuclear program, by exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities in 2010.
• CryptoLocker – This ransomware Trojan, which infected hundreds of thousands of computers in 2013, encrypted victims’ files and demanded a ransom for their decryption.
• Conficker – Emerging in 2008, this worm exploited vulnerabilities in Windows operating systems, creating a massive botnet and causing widespread infection.
• Tinba – First discovered in 2012, this banking Trojan primarily targeted financial institutions, aiming to steal login credentials and banking information.
• Welchia – A worm that aimed to remove the Blaster worm from infected systems and patch the exploited vulnerability but caused unintended network congestion in 2003.
• Shlayer – A macOS-specific Trojan that primarily spreads through fake software updates and downloads, delivering adware and potentially unwanted programs since 2018.

Removing a computer virus can be a challenging task, but there are several steps you can take to get rid of it. Common steps to remove a computer virus include:

• Download and install antivirus software: Assuming you don’t already have antivirus software installed, download and install a real-time and on-demand solution, if possible. A real-time malware scanner scans for viruses in the background while you use the computer. You must start the on-demand scanner whenever you want to scan your device.
• Disconnect from the internet: Some computer viruses use the internet connection to spread, so it’s best to disconnect from the internet when removing a virus from your PC to prevent further damage.
• Delete any temporary files: Depending on the type of virus, deleting temporary files can also delete the virus, as some viruses are designed to initiate when your computer boots up.
• Reboot your computer into safe mode: To help mitigate damages to your computer while you remove a virus, reboot your device in ‘Safe Mode.’ This will inhibit the virus from running and allow you to remove it more effectively.
• Run a virus scan: Run a full scan using your antivirus software, opting for the most thorough or complete scanning option available. If possible, cover all your hard drive letters during the scan.
• Delete or quarantine the virus: Once the virus is detected, your antivirus software will give you the option to delete or quarantine the virus. Quarantining the virus will isolate it from the rest of your computer to prevent it from causing further damage.
• Reboot your computer: Assuming you’ve effectively removed the virus, your computer can be rebooted. Simply turn on the device as you would do so normally without initiating the “Safe Mode” option.
• Update your browser and operating system: To complete the virus removal process, update your operating system and web browser to the latest version possible. Browser and OS Updates often contain fixes for particular vulnerabilities and exploits.

Given the general nature of this process, the outcome may vary from virus to virus and device to device. If you are unsure if you’ve effectively removed a virus from your computer, contact an IT or computer professional for assistance.

Computer viruses can damage your PC, send sensitive data to attackers, and cause downtime until the system is repaired. You can avoid becoming the next computer virus victim by following a few best practices:

• Install antivirus software: Antivirus should run on any device connected to the network. It’s your first defense against viruses. Antivirus software stops malware executables from running on your local device.
• Don’t open executable email attachments: Many malware attacks including ransomware start with a malicious email attachment . Executable attachments should never be opened, and users should avoid running macros programmed into files such as Microsoft Word or Excel.
• Keep your operating system updated: Developers for all major operating systems release patches to remediate common bugs and security vulnerabilities. Always keep your operating system updated and stop using end-of-life versions (e.g., Windows 7 or Windows XP).
• Avoid questionable websites: Older browsers are vulnerable to exploits used when just browsing a website. You should always keep your browser updated with the latest patches and avoid these sites to prevent drive-by downloads or redirecting you to sites that host malware.
• Don’t use pirated software: Free pirated software might be tempting, but it’s often packaged with malware. Download vendor software only from the official source and avoid using software pirated and shared software.
• Use strong passwords: Make sure your passwords are highly secure and difficult to guess. Avoid using the same password across multiple accounts and change them regularly to mitigate vulnerabilities and prevent hackers from stealing them.
• Remain vigilant: Always be cautious when downloading files or software from the internet or opening suspicious email attachments. Turn off file sharing and never share access to your computer with someone you don’t know. Also, avoid keeping sensitive or private information stored on your computer

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What Is a Computer Virus?

One of the oldest types of computer threats, viruses are nasty bits of malware that hijack your computer’s resources to replicate, spread, and cause all sorts of chaos. Keep reading to learn how viruses work and how you can protect your computer from viruses with common-sense tips and a dedicated cybersecurity tool.

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Computer viruses are just like that. If you’re unlucky enough to catch one (but don’t beat yourself too much if you do, because they are incredibly common), expect havoc to be wrecked on your hard disk — slower PC performance , damaged or destroyed files, and everything in between.

A computer virus definition, Wikipedia-style

Looking for an essay-friendly definition? Here it goes:

A computer virus is a program or piece of code designed to damage your computer by corrupting system files, wasting resources, destroying data or otherwise being a nuisance. 

Viruses are unique from other forms of malware in that they are self-replicating — capable of copying themselves across files or other computers without a user's consent.

Basically, they are really contagious.

Virus, malware, Trojan... what's the difference?

Not every piece of software that attacks your PC is a virus. Computer viruses are just one kind of malware (mal-icious soft- ware ). Here are some of the other, most common kinds:

Trojans : like the ancient wooden horse full of attackers it takes its name from, this malware pretends to be harmless legitimate software, or comes embedded in it, in order to trick the user and open up the gates for other malware to infect a PC.

Spyware : with examples such as keyloggers , this kind of malware is designed to spy on users, save their passwords, credit card details, other personal data and online behavior patterns, and send them off to whoever programmed it.

Worms : this malware type targets entire networks of devices, hopping from PC to PC.

Ransomware : this malware variety hijacks files (and sometimes an entire hard drive), encrypts them, and demands money from its victim in exchange for a decryption key (which may or may not work, but it probably won’t).

Adware : this exceedingly irritating kind of malware floods victims with unwanted ads, and opens up vulnerable security spots for other malware to wiggle its way in.

To recap, viruses are just one of several kinds of malware out there. Strictly speaking, Trojans, ransomware , etc, are not computer viruses, though many people use the shorthand “virus” to refer to malware in a general sense. Altough some devices like phones and iPads are not likely to get a virus , they are not immune to other threats.

Why do people make viruses, and what do they do?

Unlike the bio variety, computer viruses don’t just “happen”. They are manufactured, often with great care, intentionally targeting computers, systems and networks.

But what are these viruses used for?

Well, “fun”. Trolling by software, computer code graffiti… The earliest computer viruses were essentially programmers playing around, like the (maybe, probably) first one, known as the Creeper virus back in 1971, which displayed the message “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!”.

Not quite Sylvia Plath

Or the Stoned virus , which randomly displayed the words “Your computer is stoned. Legalize marihuana!” on your screen (and stayed in stoner character throughout by doing absolutely nothing else).

Or a personal favorite: the virus that pretends to be a message from a well-known software company, offering you a free cup holder if you download and install it, at which point it opens your PC’s CD tray (remember CD trays?).

Sadly, not all viruses are so cuddly. Take it from Batman’s butler: some people just want to watch the world burn — and computer viruses are a very effective way to spread chaos far and wide.

Like the ILOVEYOU virus , which destroyed the files of more than 50 million internet users worldwide, rendered PCs unbootable, copied people’s passwords and sent them to its creators, and caused up to US$9 billion in damages in the year 2000.

Even that amount pales in comparison to the US$37 billion in damages caused by the Sobig.F virus , which stopped computer traffic in Washington DC and grounded Air Canada for a while.

And then there’s the Mydoom virus , which caused such cyber bloating that it’s believed to have slowed worldwide internet traffic by 10% the day of its release.

Yes, there is a tiny, tiny subset of “good” computer viruses — such as the Cruncher virus, which compresses every file that it infects and theoretically tries to help by saving precious hard disk space.

For example, there’s a virus out there labelled Linux. Wifatch which appears to do nothing other than keeping other viruses out of your router . Linux.Wifatch is itself a virus — it infects a device without its user’s consent and coordinates its actions through a peer-to-peer network — but instead of hurting you, it acts as a sort of security guard.

(But still, there are far better ways to secure your router — and even the creators of Linux.Wifatch tell you not to trust it).

Other “well-intentioned” viruses want to act like a vaccine in that they force people, corporations and governments to strengthen their safety measures and therefore become able to repel genuine threats.

Some virus creators argue they make the world safer by pointing out security gaps and flaws that can be exploited by other viruses with truly malicious intentions.

“What could possibly go wrong?”, asked the first ten minutes of every pandemic disaster movie ever made. The truth is that viruses quickly overwhelm the defenses they’re supposed to put to the test — take the Code Red virus , which in true disaster film fashion attacked the White House (OK the White House’s web server but still OMG) and caused 2.6 billion dollars in damage worldwide.

Some vaccine.

How do computer viruses spread?

Here are some common ways in which you can get infected with a computer virus:

Email viruses

Email is one of the favorite means of transportation for computer viruses everywhere. You can get computer viruses through email by:

Opening an attachment . Often named as something harmless (such as “ Your flight itinerary ”), an executable program file (.com, .exe, .zip, .dll, .pif, .vbs, .js, .scr) or macro file type (.doc, .dot, .xls, .xlt, xlsm, .xsltm…).

Opening an email with an infected body. In these days of rich graphics and colors and bells and whistles, some viruses are being transported in the HTML body of the email itself. Many email services disable HTML by default until you confirm you trust the sender.

Instant messaging viruses

Instant messaging (IM) is another means for viruses to spread. Skype, Facebook Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and other IM services are inadvertently used to spread viruses to your contacts with infected links sent through chat messages.

These instant messaging and social media viruses spread wide and fast because it’s far easier to get people to click on a link when it’s delivered in a message coming from someone they trust, as opposed to a an email from a stranger.

File sharing viruses

Peer-to-peer file sharing services like Dropbox, SharePoint or ShareFile can be used to propagate viruses too. These services sync files and folders to any computer linked to a specific account, so when someone (inadvertently or otherwise) uploads a virus-infected file to a file-sharing account, that virus gets downloaded to everyone else with access to that shared folder.

Some file sharing services, such as Google Drive , scan uploaded files for viruses (although it only scans files smaller than 25MB, giving virus spreaders an easy out — they just have to make sure their virus-infected files are larger than that).

But most other services do not scan for viruses at all, so it’s your responsibility to make sure that you’re protected against any potential threats contained in the file they’re downloading.

Software download viruses

Fake antivirus infections are one of the most common types of virus-loaded software downloads. Scammers and cyber criminals use aggressive pop-ups and ads to scare users into believing that a non-existent virus has been detected in their PC, and compels them to download their “antivirus” software in order to clear the threat.

Instead of ridding the computer of viruses, this fake antivirus proceeds to infect the PC with malware, often with devastating consequences for the victim’s files, hard drive, and personal information.

Unpatched vulnerable software

Last but not least, one of the most common (yet most often overlooked) means for viruses to spread is unpatched software.

Unpatched software refers to software and apps which have not been updated with the latest security updates from the developer, in order to plug up security holes in the software itself.

Unpatched software is a major cybersecurity headache for businesses and organizations, but with criminals exploiting vulnerabilities in outdated versions of such popular programs as Adobe Reader, Java, Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Office , us civilians are very much at risk of infection too.

Types of computer virus

Here’s a list of different types of computer viruses currently out there:

Boot Sector Virus

The boot sector is the part of your PC’s hard drive that loads your computer’s operating system — such as Microsoft Windows. A boot sector virus infects the master boot record (MBR), so the virus loads onto the computer memory during startup.

Boot sector viruses used to be propagated mainly via pluggable devices, like USB keys, floppy disks and CD-ROMS. As technology moves on, boot sector viruses have become much rarer, and these days they mostly live on as email attachments.

Examples of boot sector viruses:

Elk Cloner: this early 1980s virus was attached to a game. At the 50th time the game was started, the virus displayed a poem on-screen.

Stoned: the initial variety displayed on-screen messages in favor of the legalization of marihuana. Its signature (though not the virus itself) crept up into the bitcoin blockchain in 2014.

Parity Boot: another “vintage” virus, this one was the most prevalent virus in Germany up to 1996.

Brain: considered to be the first computer virus for MS-DOS, it was created by the Pakistani Alvi brothers as an attempt to protect their medical software from copyright infringement — an attempt that quickly got out of hand, much to their chagrin.

Michelangelo: every year on March 6 (the birthday of artist Michelangelo), this virus would come alive and overwrite the first 100 sectors of a hard drive with nulls, making it impossible for everyday users to retrieve their files.

Direct Action Virus

These viruses are designed to “pass through” your computer: they get in, generally spread around files of a specific type (COM or EXE files, generally), and when they are done, they delete themselves. They are the most common type of virus out there and the easiest to create — which also makes them the simplest to get rid of.

Examples of direct action viruses:

Win64.Rugrat: also known as the Rugrat virus, this early example of direct action virus could would infect all 64-bit executables it could find in the directory and subdirectories in which it was launched.

Vienna virus: the Vienna virus has the distinction of being the first virus to be destroyed by an antivirus. It searches for .com files and destroys some of them while attempting to infect them.

Resident Virus

Unlike the direct action viruses we mentioned before, memory resident viruses actually set up camp in your computer’s primary memory (RAM). This is bad news, because they can keep working even after you’ve rid yourself of the original infector. Some act fast, some do their damage slowly — and are therefore harder to detect.

Examples of memory resident viruses:

Jerusalem virus (a.k.a. Friday 13th virus): after finding its way into your RAM and hiding inside it, this virus would delete programs from your computer on Friday 13, or increase the size of infected programs until they were too big to run.

Onehalf virus: sometimes known as the Freelove virus, or the Slovak Bomber, this virus slowly encrypts its way through your hard disk. Once it’s done with half (and on the 4th, 8th, 10th, 14th, 18th, 20th, 24th, 28th and 30th day of any month), it displays the message “Dis is one half. Press any key to continue…”

Magistr virus: this very destructive virus emails itself to your contact list, deletes every other file, wrecks your CMOS and BIOS — and leaves you insulting messages to boot.

Multipartite Virus

These ultra-versatile viruses double their spreading power by targeting both your files and your boot space. That way, even after you’ve succeeded in removing all the infected files in your computer, the virus still lingers hidden in the boot sector, ready to strike again — and if you clean the boot sector, the virus will re-infect it by jumping from one of the infected files.

Examples of multipartite viruses:

Junkie virus: this multipartite virus was transmitted in a file called HV-PSPTC.ZIP., supposedly a Pacific Strike computer game. Which it wasn’t.

Tequila virus: this one avoids files which contain the letters “v” and “sc” in their name, and likes to display the message “BEER and TEQUILA forever!”

• Shhhh, don't argue with the virus

Invader virus: this one starts off nicely by playing a Mozart tune, but the moment you hit CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot, it overwrites the first line of your hard disk with a copy of the virus.

Polymorphic Virus

The mutants of the computer virus world, these viruses shape-shift in order to avoid detection, while holding onto their basic threat capabilities. After infecting your files, these viruses replicate themselves in a slightly different way — which makes them very difficult to fully detect and remove.

Examples of polymorphic viruses:

Satanbug virus: despite its let’s face it quite badass name, this polymorphic virus doesn’t intentionally damage your files — but with its up to nine levels of encryption, virus scanners have a hard time removing it from your PC.

VirLock virus: part ransomware, part polymorphic virus, the Win32/VirLock virus encrypts your files and asks you for ransom — but it also changes shape every time it spreads.

Macro Virus

Macro viruses are written in macro language, with the intention of embedding them within software that allows macro mini-programs such as Microsoft Word. That means your PC can be infected by Word Document viruses.

Examples of macro viruses:

Melissa: distributed through email attachments, once this virus infects your PC it makes its way to your Microsoft Outlook mail client and mails itself to the first 50 contacts in your address book, potentially slowing down or even completely disabling servers in a chain reaction of suck.

How do I protect myself against viruses?

By now we have established you definitely don’t want any of these viruses anywhere near your files, your hard drive or your network. Now, let’s look at how you can avoid computer viruses in the first place.

Use antivirus protection

You have to, have to, have to have some form of antivirus software installed in your PC and your smartphone.

An antivirus is your first line of defense against viruses and a whole bunch of other malware that you seriously don’t want to have to deal with. If you think viruses are bad (and they are), there’s stuff out there that’s even worse. 

No excuses. Don’t want to fork out money? There are a few exceptionally good free antivirus software choices out there (ahem). Worried the software will slow down your PC? Ours is so light, you won’t even notice it’s there.

If you’re looking for something extra, premium antivirus programs can offer all kinds of added security features - like our Ransomware Protection shield, which stops anyone from hijacking your files and extorting money from you. For instance, we help you find your phone if you lose it, which is pretty neat.

But hey, you don’t have to get our antivirus (even though it’s free and awesome). Just get some antivirus.*

*although (AND THIS IS THE LAST THING WE’LL SAY ABOUT THIS WE PROMISE) you really shouldn’t get just any free antivirus you find laying around out there, because some of them are actually malware carriers in disguise, and some others are just really blah. So for your own good, always go with an antivirus from a cyber security company whose reputation is at least as good as ours.

Use that pretty head of yours

Apart from letting your antivirus detect and remove viruses, you’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by using proper cyber hygiene in the first place and following some basic internet safety tips:

Don’t just click on any link your friends send you on social media — especially if the message is just a link with no context, or if the words in the message don’t quite sound like them. People’s Facebook accounts get hacked and used to spread out viruses and malware. When in doubt, message your friend directly and ask if they really meant to send you that link. Often, the answer will be “What!? No!”

Don’t open any email attachment unless you 100% know what it is. Cyber criminals often rely on your natural curiosity to spread viruses - they tell you you’ve won something, but you haven’t entered any contests; or they send you a “flight itinerary”, but you aren’t planning on going anywhere. So you open the attachment to see what it’s all about, and bam, you’re infected. So, don’t.

Don’t fall for “Your PC is infected!” hysteric messages and pop-ups that aren’t coming directly from your antivirus. There is a very good chance they’re trying to lure you into downloading a fake antivirus and take your money, infect you computer with malware, or both. When our antivirus catches something, we let you know with a satisfying little message, and that’s it. We don’t ask you to download anything else, or pay any money.

Don’t enable macros in Microsoft Office . A few years ago we would have recommend you to disable macros, but Microsoft already does that by default. Which means cyber criminals try to trick you into enabling them with all sorts of dark mind tricks and fake warnings when you receive an infected email. Don’t fall for them.

But seriously. Antivirus. Now.

How do I remove a virus from my computer?

Stopping a virus from getting into your PC is a lot easier than deleting a virus that’s already in your computer, but if you suspect your PC is already infected with a virus, do not fret. We’ve got you covered.

Is your computer infected?

If your computer has become very slow all of a sudden for no particular reason; if you’re being flooded with pop-up messages out of the blue; if programs and apps start by themselves, and you can hear the hum-hum of your hard drive constantly working in the background…

… it may be.

Here’s how you delete a virus

We have a step-by-step guide that tells you how to get rid of computer viruses the safe and easy way. Give it a read. Or, if your phone has been acting oddly lately, check out our detailed guide to learn how to tell if your phone has a virus or other form of nasty malware — and how to get rid of it.

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Essay on Computer Virus

Students are often asked to write an essay on Computer Virus in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Computer Virus

What is a computer virus.

A computer virus is a bad program that can copy itself and spread to other computers. It can damage your computer’s normal work, delete files, or steal information. Just like a cold virus makes people sick, a computer virus harms computers.

How Do Viruses Spread?

Viruses spread when you download infected files, click on bad links, or use USB drives with the virus. They can come from the internet or from other computers that already have the virus.

Protecting Your Computer

To keep your computer safe, use antivirus software. It’s like a medicine that finds and removes viruses. Also, don’t click on unknown links or download files from untrusted websites.

250 Words Essay on Computer Virus

A computer virus is a type of bad software. It is like a flu virus for computers. Just as a flu virus can spread from one person to another, a computer virus spreads from one computer to another. It can copy itself and move through networks or via USB drives. When it gets into a computer, it can cause problems, such as deleting files or making the computer run slowly.

How Does a Virus Spread?

Viruses spread when you download infected files from the internet or when you plug in a USB drive that has a virus. Sometimes, they can come from email attachments or when you click on a bad link. Once inside, they can send themselves to other computers without you knowing.

Types of Viruses

There are many kinds of computer viruses. Some just show messages, while others can delete all the files on a computer. There are even types that can steal your personal information. It is important to know that not all viruses do the same thing.

To keep your computer safe, you should use antivirus software. This software looks for viruses and stops them. It is also good to update your computer and programs often, as updates fix security problems. Be careful when downloading files or clicking on links, and do not use USB drives that you do not trust.

Remember, being careful and using the right protection can keep your computer healthy, just like washing hands and eating well can keep you from getting the flu.

500 Words Essay on Computer Virus

Imagine you have a cold. You sneeze, and your friend catches it. A computer virus is a bit like that, but for computers. It is a sneaky program that can spread from one computer to another, causing harm. Just like a real virus can make people sick, a computer virus can make a computer act weirdly or even damage it.

Viruses spread in many ways. Sometimes, when you download a game or an app from the internet, a virus might come with it. Other times, it could be hidden in an email. When you open the email or run the program, the virus gets to work. It can copy itself onto your computer or even jump to other computers when you share files.

Types of Computer Viruses

There are many kinds of computer viruses. Some just pop up annoying messages on your screen. Others can delete files or make it so you can’t access important information on your computer. There are even viruses that can take control of your computer and use it to send out more viruses to other computers.

Signs of a Virus

How do you know if your computer has a virus? Some signs include your computer being slower than usual, programs starting on their own, or files disappearing. If your computer starts acting strangely, it might be infected with a virus.

Protecting Against Viruses

To protect your computer from viruses, you should use antivirus software. This is a special program that looks for viruses and gets rid of them. It’s like medicine for your computer. You should also be careful about what you download and open, especially if it’s from someone you don’t know.

What to Do If You Get a Virus

If you think your computer has a virus, don’t panic. The first thing to do is run your antivirus software to see if it can find and remove the virus. Sometimes, if the virus is very bad, you might need to ask an adult or a professional for help.

A computer virus can be a big problem, but by being careful and using antivirus software, you can keep your computer healthy. Remember to update your antivirus regularly and be smart about what you click on and download. With these precautions, you can help stop the spread of computer viruses.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Computer Viruses Essay example

A computer virus program is altering program and it replicated itself by coping itself into other programs stored in a computer. The word "virus" is also commonly used broadly to include computer viruses, worms, and Trojan horse programs. For example, so-called "anti-virus software" will remove all three classes of these malicious programs. The first virus was born in the very beginning of 1970’s or even in the end of 1960’s although nobody was calling it a virus back then. Pervading animal and Christmas tree were the first. Virus started infecting files. However today virus has multiplied and mostly all are alike in a sense. They periodically kill files or ruin them in which a person will not be able to locate or ever used them …show more content…

The difference between a virus and worm is a virus never copies itself; a virus is copied only when the infected executable file is run. In the wholesome original form, a worm neither deleted nor changed filed on the victim’s computer the worm basically makes multiple copies of it and sent those copies from the victim’s computer, thus jam disk drives and the internet with multiple copies of the worm. Releasing such a worm into the Internet will slow the valid traffic on the internet. In the same way, many crimes involving computers are no different from crimes without computers; the computer is only a tool that a criminal uses to commit a crime. For example, using a computer or a scanner, you can duplicate/print or falsified many identication card for example, driver’s license or social security card in which one can commit crimes with. With this machine one can commit identity theft and ruin a victim’s credit. Stealing a laptop with a person personally information without their knowledge is almost the same as stealing saving bonds out a safe that was not your . Furthermore, there are a lot of other fraudulent crimes besides, the virus or the computer worm . They have internet online sex crime, obscene pictures, solicitation of children for sex by pedophiles via chat rooms. Selling product via the internet that not authentic or just to

Nt1330 Unit 3 Assignment 1

A Virus is a piece of malicious code that has the intent to damage your system.

Nt1310 Unit 4 Components Of Operating System

Antivirus is programming program that outline to make PC gradually in light of the fact that programmer can be take the secret word and furthermore the records can be erase frame desktop and imperative things like video and picture there case about that treats, worms and Trojans.

Nt1310 Unit 1 Case Study

Malware consists of viruses which are programs that attach themselves to legitimate programs on a victim’s machine. Worms are standalone programs that do not attach themselves to other programs. Direct propagation words take advantage of vulnerabilities in software. Blended threats propagate both as viruses and worms however; they post themselves on websites for people to download unwillingly. The payrolls are being nine they merely pop up Ace message on the victims computer screen or do something unknowing but nonlethal damage. Trojan horses, hides itself by deleting a system file and taking on the system file name. Remote access Trojan gives the attacker remote control of your computer. These items mentioned above do not rename themselves they can cause great damage or be just a nuisance.

Nt1310 Unit 3

As we know virus protection software is a code written by one of the programing languages that we know. This code works as a search engine looking for infected files in the entire system or specific locations on the system. The idea depends on two important factors which are, search engine and viruses’ data base. The following scenario explains how people get viruses and how virus protection software works.

Nt1330 Unit 3 Assignment 1 Questions And Answers

Computer virus is a program that can copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of the user. Viruses perform some type of harmful activity such as accessing private information or corrupting

Unit 2 TASK 1 Decoding the Jargon

The specific program used to prevent viruses, worms and Trojans which attached in the email or website.

Nature Online Virus Lab

Viruses are microscopic organisms that can only replicate inside cells of the host organism. Viruses for the most part are so small you would have to use a conventional optical microscope. Viruses can infect any and all types of organisms, such as animals (to include Humans), plants and even bacteria as well as archaea (archaea constitutes a domain or kingdom of single-celled microorganisms). There are millions of different types of viruses. With viruses being believed to be the most abundant type of biological entity, they can be virtually found in every ecosystem on the planet.

Code that attaches itself to a program that is designed to cause malfunctioning of a computer or damage the data stored on the computer.

Dos Attack Research Paper

Viruses and worms are malicious programs that self-replicate on computers or through computer systems without the user being cognizant. Worms are a series programs that repeat themselves from system to system minus the use of a host fie. Worms use methods to infiltrate remote computers and launch replicas of themselves like email messages or coping files to an accessible disk. A computer virus is a

Cyber Crime Essay

Property: These kind of crimes includes unauthorized computer tres passing via cyber space, transmission of harmful programmer or possession of comutersied information.

Computer Viruses and Malware Essay

• 6 Works Cited

Computer viruses are minute program which is “embedded inside an application or within a data file which can copy itself into another program“(Adams et al, 2008 ) for the sole determination of meddling with normal computer operations. The consequences may range from corruption and deletion of data; propagation of virus on to network and deployment through attachments through emails in order to further creating havoc to all associated computing devices.

Malware And Its Effects On Society

To understand the business of malware, one must understand how malware has evolved in the past twenty-five years. Malware, which includes all kinds of malicious software, was originally created to show the weaknesses of computers. The first type of malware, created in 1986, was a virus called “Brain.A. Brain.A was developed in Pakistan, by two brothers - Basit and Amjad. They wanted to prove that PC is not secure platform, so they created virus that was replicating using floppy disks” (Milošević). Even today malware is still used to check the security of machines.

Windows versus Linux Essay

There are an enormous amount of malicious software programs. The most common types are known as viruses and spyware. Spyware has

Essay about Threats to Computer and Data Systems Today

There are special viruses that creates different types of malicious problems on a network or computer, for instance it will create or open programs to perform tasks. Viruses is also used for denial of service attacks, password cracking and many more. This can be fought against by having a reliable protection service; it is safer if this is taken from the provider itself.

Taking a Look at Computer Viruses

A computer virus is Program or a portion of the codes that enter into the computer to target vandalism and characterized by their ability to copy itself to many copies and their ability to move from place to place and from computer to computer, disappearances and contents cover.

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Essay about Computer viruses

How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers? Muhammad A. Khan Computer viruses spread and in many ways they affect computers. A computer virus is a program written to enter your computer system and "infect" it by installing or modifying files or establishing itself in memory. Some viruses are benign and won't harm your system, while others are destructive and can damage or destroy your data. Computer viruses usually spread in one of following ways: from removable media; from downloads off the Internet; from email attachments; Online ads ; Malware and virus and encryption: Social media: Mobile malware : and User stubbornness. There many means by which a computer virus may spread. Computer viruses may also spread from removable media. For instance, a person has a removable flash drive that has been infected with a computer virus from a source computer. Program or file viruses are software programs that attach themselves to executable programs. Once the infected program is run, the virus is transferred to your system's memory and may replicate itself further. It may spread to all the files on a hard drive or to files of a specific type. ("PC Hell: What Are Computer Viruses." PC Hell: Computer Hints and Tips to Bring You Back from the Edge. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2015.) When the person boots the removable flash drive in another personal computer it will trigger the spread of the virus from the removable flash drive to the personal computer. Any person therefore who inserts a floppy disk or a removable flash drive in the infected personal computer may also get a computer virus. According to pctools, Many viruses attach themselves to legitimate executable files on a host computer that allow the virus to be loaded when the user opens the file. (http://www.pctools.com/security-news/what-do-computer-viruses-do/) The transfer of virus will continue until the computer virus is detected. Or, when a person purchases software that is infected with a computer virus and then uses the same software in his personal computer the running of the software can trigger the virus to spread to this personal computer. There are many common computer viruses that are spreading nowadays. One of the most common viruses is called the Win32/Virut.NBK. This virus is a malicious and destructive program that sneaks inside the systems such as the XP or Vista. According to Microsoft website, this virus is a polymorphic file infector that targets .exe and .scr file. It is capable of modifying the files names and installing various files on the infected machine. It can also create corrupt .exe and .dll files and download further malware threats onto the system. The common source of this virus are the adult web sites which allow its users to download films, infected email attachments or through file sharing. This virus is so destructive that Microsoft considers that the alert level for this virus is severe. Another way is through email attachment. A Trojan horse is different from a computer virus or computer worm because it cannot replicate itself or reproduce. It can spread from one computer to another through a variety of means. It can be transferred through email attachments. Once the recipient who receives the computer attachment opens the attachment, the virus can immediately infect the system. It can also be spread by means of chat software such as Yahoo Messenger or Skype. Another method is by sending copies of itself to the people in the address book of the user who has a Trojan horse virus.One of the means to protect a user from a Trojan horse virus is by not opening email attachments or files from which have been sent by a unknown user. Another is by updating the user’s anti-virus software. Malware and virus obfuscation and encryption is a New malware can bypass antivirus tools when they are modified with encrypted, or obfuscated. For example, let's say we have "malware.exe," Show More

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A Study on Hazards of Computer Viruses

Computer use is becoming part of our lives every other day however there have been considerable threats of computer viruses in the recent past. Viruses have had adverse effects on data and programs ranging from formatting hard disks, damaging information infrastructure, suddenly restarting machines, deleting or modifying data and in some cases mild effects such as slowing down machines or producing irritating sounds. Viruses have been a major cause for worry especially with the advances in data processing, storage and movement of information technologically. Many computer users and organizations especially the computer intensive organizations have had to invest heavily in dealing with viruses particularly those organizations running the windows platform. These computer viruses have been defined by their characteristics of entry and multiplication without the user’s notice as well as diverting the normal functioning of the computer. This paper seeks to define a virus and explain its related terms such as malicious software, worms, and Trojan horses. It explains vulnerabilities of operating systems in relation to viruses, it makes an observation on strengths of Linux versus Windows, outline the present state of affairs, apart from using anti-virus software, there are other procedures which can help protect against viruses which are also mentioned, the future of computer viruses and the conclusion that the Internet is serving its purpose of interconnecting computer and hence promoting distribution of viruses then makes some recommendations on viruses.

Comparison, Analysis and Analogy of Biological and Computer Viruses

Correlation of biological and computer viruses through evolutionary game theory, pemodelan matematika terhadap penyebaran virus komputer dengan probabilitas kekebalan.

The increase in the number of computer viruses can be modeled with a mathematical model of the spread of SEIR type of diseases with immunity probability. This study aims to model the pattern of the spread of computer viruses. The method used in this research is the analytical method with the probability of mathematical immunity. Based on the analysis of the model, two equilibrium points free from disease E1 and endemic equilibrium points E2 were obtained. The existence and local stability of the equilibrium point depends on the basic reproduction number R0. Equilibrium points E1 and E2 tend to be locally stable because R0<1 which means there is no spread of disease. While the numerical simulation results shown that the size of the probability of immunity will affect compartment R and the minimum size of a new computer and the spread of computer viruses will affect compartments S and E on the graph of the simulation results. The conclusion obtained by the immune model SEIR successfully shows that increasing the probability of immunity significantly affects the increase in the number of computer hygiene after being exposed to a virus.

Predicting Spread Probability of Learning-Effect Computer Virus

With the rapid development of network technology, computer viruses have developed at a fast pace. The threat of computer viruses persists because of the constant demand for computers and networks. When a computer virus infects a facility, the virus seeks to invade other facilities in the network by exploiting the convenience of the network protocol and the high connectivity of the network. Hence, there is an increasing need for accurate calculation of the probability of computer-virus-infected areas for developing corresponding strategies, for example, based on the possible virus-infected areas, to interrupt the relevant connections between the uninfected and infected computers in time. The spread of the computer virus forms a scale-free network whose node degree follows the power rule. A novel algorithm based on the binary-addition tree algorithm (BAT) is proposed to effectively predict the spread of computer viruses. The proposed BAT utilizes the probability derived from PageRank from the scale-free network together with the consideration of state vectors with both the temporal and learning effects. The performance of the proposed algorithm was verified via numerous experiments.

EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER VIRUSES

The dynamical analysis of computer viruses model with age structure and delay.

This paper deals with the dynamical behaviors for a computer viruses model with age structure, where the loss of the acquired immunity and delay are incorporated. Through some rigorous analyses, an explicit formula for the basic reproduction number of the model is calculated, and some results about stability and instability of equilibria for the model are established. These findings show that the age structure and delay can produce Hopf bifurcation for the computer viruses model. The numerical examples are executed to validate the theoretical results.

A Fractional SAIDR Model in the Frame of Atangana–Baleanu Derivative

It is possible to produce mobile phone worms, which are computer viruses with the ability to command the running of cell phones by taking advantage of their flaws, to be transmitted from one device to the other with increasing numbers. In our day, one of the services to gain currency for circulating these malignant worms is SMS. The distinctions of computers from mobile devices render the existing propagation models of computer worms unable to start operating instantaneously in the mobile network, and this is particularly valid for the SMS framework. The susceptible–affected–infectious–suspended–recovered model with a classical derivative (abbreviated as SAIDR) was coined by Xiao et al., (2017) in order to correctly estimate the spread of worms by means of SMS. This study is the first to implement an Atangana–Baleanu (AB) derivative in association with the fractional SAIDR model, depending upon the SAIDR model. The existence and uniqueness of the drinking model solutions together with the stability analysis are shown through the Banach fixed point theorem. The special solution of the model is investigated using the Laplace transformation and then we present a set of numeric graphics by varying the fractional-order θ with the intention of showing the effectiveness of the fractional derivative.

Information Technology Act 2000 and the Potential Use of Data Analytics in Reducing Cybercrime in India

Cybercrime is increasing rapidly in this digitized world. Be it business, education, shopping, or banking transactions, everything is on cyberspace. Cybercrime covers a wide range of different attacks such as financial cybercrime, spreading computer viruses or malware, internet fraud, pornography cybercrime, intellectual property rights violation, etc. Due to increased cyber-attacks these days, the online users must be aware of these kinds of attacks and need to be cautious with their data online. Each country has their own laws for dealing with cybercrime. The different measures taken by the government of India to combat cybercrime are explained in this chapter. How the potential use of data analytics can help in reducing cybercrime in India is also explained.

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