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7.4 What Is A Computer Virus

A computer virus is a type of malware that can infect and replicate on a computer system, often without the owner's knowledge, and can spread through networks. Viruses can cause various harms, including data loss, system crashes, and unauthorized email usage, and they can be contracted through infected media or emails. To protect against viruses, it is essential to use antivirus software, which scans for and removes malware, and to follow safe computing practices.

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23 views3 pages

7.4 What Is A Computer Virus

A computer virus is a type of malware that can infect and replicate on a computer system, often without the owner's knowledge, and can spread through networks. Viruses can cause various harms, including data loss, system crashes, and unauthorized email usage, and they can be contracted through infected media or emails. To protect against viruses, it is essential to use antivirus software, which scans for and removes malware, and to follow safe computing practices.

Uploaded by

mrnirajbro
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a piece of software. This malware has the ability to infect a computer
system and quickly replicate itself. The owner of the computer may be unaware that the
computer has been compromised. Viruses generally infect only one computer at a time, but if
that computer is connected to a network, the virus can spread to other computers, similar to
how a human virus spreads from one person to another.

Code Red, MYDoom, and Mellissa are three well-known viruses. The first widely disseminated
computer virus, however, was BRAIN, which was invented in Pakistan in 1986.

Harms caused by Computer Viruses

Viruses can impact your computer in a diversity of ways.

o They have the potential to crash your hard drive.


o They have the ability to delete all or some part of your data.
o They slow down the computer's processing speed.
o They can cause the computer's or hard disk's memory to be reduced or blocked.
o They prevent you from rebooting your pc or restarting it repeatedly.
o They use your account to send e-mails without your awareness.

What causes a computer to become infected with a virus?

Viruses infect computers in a multiple ways. Here are a few examples:

o Using virus-infected CDs/Pen Drives.


o Opening an infected e-mail attachment.
o Downloading an infected program from the Internet, Pen Drives, CDs, or DVDs.
o Running an infected program (which can be a game, screen saver, etc.)
o Through local computer networks.

How do you know your PC has a virus?

An infected computer system will:

o Start displaying unusual messages on the screen.


o Load the programs late.
o Take more time to shut the windows.
o Increase the size of the infected files.
o Change the file names or types automatically.
How to prevent the virus from attacking your PC?

o Download any legal software.


o Don't open any unknown mail.
o If you receive an e-mail attachment from an unknown sender, refrain from opening it.
o Don't download music, program, or games from unknown sources on the Internet.
o Install an antivirus program in your system.

What is an Antivirus Software?

o Antivirus software is a sort of application that defends computers from malware such
as viruses, computer worms, trojans, spyware, botnets, rootkits, keyloggers, and other
threats.
o Antivirus software scans your computer for viruses, finds them, and removes them.
o Anti-virus software comes in a range of versions and formats.
o Antivirus software, on the other hand, is designed to protect computers and, once
viruses are detected, to destroy them.
o Most of the antivirus software allows for both automated and manual screening.
o Files downloaded from the Internet, discs inserted into the computer, and files created
by programme installers can all be checked with the quick scanning option.
o The automated scanning action may potentially inspect the complete hard disc on
regularly.
o You can review individual files or the entire network using the manual method at any
moment you like.

Need for an Antivirus Software

With far too many internet-connected devices in the house these days, technology has made
everyday living more convenient-but also hazardous.

Since several tasks are nowadays carried out online, and new risks develop on a regular basis,
installing a defensive antivirus programme is now more vital than ever.

Malicious software, sometimes known as malware, is computer code that can damage your
PC, as well as the data stored on it. Unknowingly installing malware via an attachment
attached to a shady e-mail, concealed on a USB drive, or even visiting a shady website might
infect your devices.

Malware can hijack your data, encrypt it so you can't access it, or entirely destroy it once it's
on your computer or laptop. As a result, it's critical to install antivirus software and maintain
it up to date in order to secure your data and equipment.
Today's modern malware (an umbrella term that encompasses computer viruses) changes form
quickly to avoid detection by traditional, definition-based antivirus systems.

Viruses can be designed to destroy your device, prevent access to data, or gain access to the
system.Antivirus software must be installed and updated by users since a system that is not
secured by antivirus software will be infected within moments of connecting to the Internet.

Because the onslaught is never-ending, antivirus companies must update their detection
systems on regularly to keep up with the more than 60,000 new types of malware created
every day.

Thankfully, there are many fantastic options to pick from on the market today.

How does Antivirus Software function?

o Antivirus software involves comparing the files and programmes on your computer to a
list of identified malware types.
o It will also monitor computers for the emergence of a novel or unknown malware
threats, as hackers are constantly generating and propagating new viruses.
o Most programmes will employ one of three detection methods: specific detection,
which looks for known malware; generic detection, which looks for recognized parts or
forms of malware or trends that share a common codebase; and heuristic detection,
which looks for unfamiliar viruses by identifying known suspicious file structures.
o When the programme detects a virus-infected file, it will normally isolate it and/or
designate it for destruction, rendering it unavailable and eliminating the threat to your
system.

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