Computers and Technology

Almost all the computer users are familiar with the word computer virus. But what exactly a computer virus is? Simply speaking, this is a small software program that hinders computer operation. Computer viruses have immense power and they may corrupt or delete data on a computer. Viruses mainly spread from one computer to other computer via internet. Computer viruses are also easily spread by attachments in e-mail messages. They can also be disguised as attachments of greeting cards, funny images as well as audio and video files. Sometimes they are also hidden in pirated software as well.

Are you thinking how to protect your computer against viruses? There are a number of way outs by which you can keep computer viruses at bay. Some of the most useful tips are given below:

• First and foremost turn on the firewall on your computer.
• It is a must to keep the operating system of the computer up-to-date.
• Install a good antivirus software on the computer and update it regularly.
• It is also suggested to install updated antispyware software.

How to understand whether the compute is virus affected or not? There are various symptoms with which you can understand that your computer is infected. But the most important thing is that you can get these indications due to hardware or software problems as well. So, it is better to get in touch with a remote computer repair company to ensure whether the system is virus affected or having some software or hardware problem. However, following is a list of some common symptoms:

• The computer is running slower than usual.
• The computer crashed without any prior notice.
• The computer restarts on its own.
• The computer is getting restarted while booting.
• Applications on the computer are not performing properly.
• Computer hard drives are inaccessible.
• Operating system is giving unusual error messages.
• The computer is displaying distorted menus and dialog boxes.
• You are unable to install an antivirus program.
• A program is not there is not in the computer, although you didn't uninstall it.

Now if your computer is infected by a virus what will you do. Don't worry! There are ways to remove viruses and run your computer smoothly. You can consult a computer support service provider for virus removal support or else you can try some simple things on your own. Let's have a look at what you can do to remove a computer virus.

• Update the operating system.
• Update the antivirus software and perform a thorough scan of the computer.
• You can also download, install, and run the "Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool."

Sometimes, the viruses are so strong that even after performing the above mentioned steps, the problem persists. It is also seen that the virus is creating a hindrance to install antivirus or run a complete scan. Formatting the hard disk is the one and only solution. In these cases, consulting an expert is the best solution.