Much like a biological virus, which infects living organisms, a computer virus attaches itself to a legitimate program or file and replicates itself when that program or file is executed.
So, What Is A Computer Virus?
A computer virus is a type of malicious software (or malware) designed to spread from one computer to another. The primary purpose of a virus is to alter the way your computer operates, without your permission or knowledge.
What Can A Computer Virus Do?
Once a virus has infected your system, it can perform a variety of harmful activities, such as:
- Deleting files: Some viruses are programmed to delete or corrupt your data.
- Stealing personal information: Others might be designed to capture sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
- Spamming your contacts: Some viruses will spread by sending copies of themselves to your email contacts or social media friends.
- Slowing down your system: Many viruses consume your computer’s resources, leading to slower performance and frequent crashes.
Types of Computer Viruses
There are several types of computer viruses, each with its own characteristics and methods of infection:
- File Infector Virus: This type of virus attaches itself to executable files (.exe, .com) and spreads when the infected file is run. It can corrupt or delete files, making programs unusable.
- Boot Sector Virus: This virus targets the boot sector of a hard drive or removable media. It activates when the computer is started, potentially preventing the system from booting properly.
- Macro Virus: Macro viruses are designed to infect files created using software that supports macros, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. They spread by infecting documents and can perform a range of harmful actions, from corrupting data to spreading to other systems via shared files.
- Polymorphic Virus: Polymorphic viruses can change their code each time they replicate, making them difficult to detect by traditional antivirus software.
- Resident Virus: This virus embeds itself in a computer’s memory and can infect any file or program that is opened, running in the background without the user’s knowledge.
How Do Computer Viruses Spread?
Computer viruses can spread in many ways, but some of the most common methods include:
- Email attachments: Opening a seemingly innocent attachment in an email can unleash a virus.
- Software Cracks: Some software cracks can unleash virus or even spyware on your system which is why most of the cracks will prompt you to disable your Anti-virus program before use.
- Infected downloads: Downloading software or files from untrustworthy sources can introduce viruses to your system.
- Removable media: USB drives, CDs, and other removable media can carry viruses from one computer to another.
- Malicious websites: Visiting a compromised or malicious website can result in a virus being downloaded to your device without your knowledge.
Conclusion
Computer viruses are a serious threat in the digital age, capable of causing significant harm to your data and system.
The best defense against viruses is a combination of vigilance, good security practices – getting your softwares from reliable sources, and using reliable antivirus software.
