What is a computer virus and how does it spread?
A computer virusself-replicates and executes itself, often without the knowledge or permission of the user. A virus might corrupt or delete data on your computer, use your email program to spread itself to other computers, or even erase everything on your hard disk.
Most viruses are spread by attachments in email messages or by instant messaging messages. That’s why it’s important never to open email attachments from people you don’t know, and to be careful about files you download from the Internet.
Some viruses are spread by USB flash drives, infected websites, or by Blu-ray or DVD discs. Once a virus is on your computer, it can spread to other computers on your network.
Computer viruses are often spread by people who don’t know they are doing anything wrong. They might get an email with an attachment and forward it to a friend or open it because they think it’s something else, like a photo. Or they might visit an infected website and download a file without realizing it’s infected.
To protect your computer, you should have a good antivirus program. Antivirus programs scan files and email attachments to look for signs of a virus. They also scan websites to try to block viruses from being downloaded.
You can also help protect your computer by not clicking on links in email messages or instant messages unless you’re sure they’re from a trusted source. And be careful about what you download from the Internet. Don’t open files from people you don’t know, and be very careful about what websites you visit.
What are the most common computer viruses?
A computer virus is a malicious software program that is designed to damage, delete, or disable a computer. There are many different types of computer viruses, and they can be classified in a number of ways. The most common types of viruses are listed below.
1. Boot Sector Viruses
Boot sector viruses are one of the most common types of virus. These viruses infect the boot sector of a computer, which is the portion of the hard drive that contains the information needed to start up the computer. One of the most common boot sector viruses is the Master Boot Record (MBR) virus.
2. File Infecting Viruses
File infecting viruses are another common type of virus. These viruses infect executable files, which are files that can be run on a computer. When an infected file is run, the virus is executed as well. File infecting viruses are often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
3. Macro Viruses
Macro viruses are a type of virus that is written in a macro language. Macro languages are used to create macros, which are small programs that automate tasks. Macro viruses are often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
4. Multipartite Viruses
Multipartite viruses are a type of virus that can infect both boot sectors and executable files. These viruses are often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
5. Polymorphic Viruses
Polymorphic viruses are a type of virus that can change their appearance to avoid detection. These viruses are often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
6. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of virus that encrypts files on a computer and demands a ransom be paid to decrypt the files. Ransomware is often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
7. Spyware
Spyware is a type of virus that is designed to collect information about a user without their knowledge. Spyware is often installed on a computer without the user’s knowledge and can be difficult to remove.
8.Trojan Horses
Trojan horses are a type of virus that appears to be something harmless but is actually malicious. Trojan horses are often spread by email attachments and downloaded files.
These are some of the most common types of computer viruses. There are many other types of viruses, and new types of viruses are constantly being created.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about computer viruses. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.