Computers and Technology

In order to understand what a computer virus is, you must first understand what a virus is. It is actually a small organism that can only reproduce within a living cell or body. As such, it is usually harmful to the cell or body in which it lives. This is why a virus can make you sick or cause you to have a disease.

This relates to computers because a computer virus is actually a harmful computer program that can damage your computer's files. It is even possible for it to damage your computer. This is because a computer virus is able to duplicate and spread itself within a computer or computer network. However, you may not even know that your computer has a virus because it can usually hide itself really well within a program, file or document.

So, who would want to create a computer virus? A criminal who creates a computer virus would need to be somewhat talented and have nothing better to do with their time. Their only purpose for creating a computer virus is to cause both trouble and damage.

Today there are many different names that are used to describe a computer virus. The names that are used to describe these various viruses include Macro Viruses, Email Viruses and Trojan Horses. Of course, each of these different viruses has a slightly different description but they all act in very similar ways. Each of these viruses is able to spread through your computer and infect its files and documents. A computer virus can also spread itself throughout the Internet and local computer networks or removable storage devices. However, since the virus is hidden, it is hard to detect and easily spread.

Once a virus enters your computer it can either be very harmful or simply annoying.

What you can do to protect your Computer and important data.

Install Antivirus Software.

What is Antivirus Software - Antivirus or Anti-Virus software is computer program, the roll of antivirus is to protect computer against viruses and worms. This program actively guards computer from getting infected with Viruses and worms, it will stop people trying to heck your computer or stop viruses from deleting important data. The Antivirus software helps in protecting your personal data, corporate data from attacks on your personal computer or on servers. Like taking medicine helps in curing body virus, similarly by installing antivirus software helps in protecting computer and data. Apart from installing Antivirus software you should also install firewall on your computer, this helps stop malicious attack on your computer from people who are looking personal and credit card information, they steel your personal and financial information. Good antivirus software will scan your hard disk for viruses, scan your incoming email attachments and stop pop up ads appearing on screen etc.

If you don't have antivirus software installed on computer, you can buy one of several companies.

Microsoft has product called Windows Live OneCare - Usually starts from $50 per year.

Symantec has Norton product

MacAfee

PC Doctor

Kaspersky Antivirus Personal

Panda Anti-Virus Titanium & Platinum

NOD32 Anti-Virus

Command Antivirus

McAfee Antivirus Virus Scan Online