VGL A. - Computer Virus: Introducing… Computer Virus

The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possiblein the creation of this report, notwithstanding the fact that he doesnot warrant or represent at any time that the contents within areaccurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.

While all attempts have been made to verify information provided inthis publication, the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors,omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples, or organizationsare unintentional.

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This book is not intended for use as a source of legal, business,accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek servicesof competent professionals in legal, business, accounting and financefields.

As its title seems to imply, a virus is indeed a very damaging elementwhich is certainly capable of causing enough chaos to a system torender it helpless, at least for a time.

A virus will function as an element that will constitute damage to thehard disk contentsorinterferewith thenormaloperationalexecutions of the computer system. This will cause the computer to be unable to function properly until the virus is eliminated and theoverall system is overhauled and rebooted.

A virus program is usually able to replicate itself and this too is anadded problem once the virus latches on to a system. Progressivelygetting out of control, the virus will attempt to cause as much damageas possible before it can be detected and eliminated. The replication isusually intentional and designed to act just like a Trojan, thus causingthe unsuspecting user being caught off guard. If a file that contains avirus is opened, or copied onto another computer, then the othercomputer will also become infected and this process is repeated everytime the file is opened and downloaded onto other systems.

A virus can easily be introduced into a computer system along with any software program and this is bad news for the users of FTPotherwise referred to as file transfer protocol. The viruses can alsobecomea problem when thereisreferencing doneand emailattachments are being used. When the virus enters the computer system, it can attach itself to, or even replace an existing program.This of course is not good for the user, who will ultimately open theattachment or file and cause the virus to be activated.

Having a virus unleash itself within a computer system can be anightmare for the user, as this is most often done unintentionally butwith no less detrimental effects. There is no real way to detect how avirus really attacks and spreads but a lot of effort is put into how toensure the damage done is as minimal as possible.

The following are some of the more frequent ways that viruses canspread form computer system to another effectively until detection isalmost too late to save the infected material:

Email attachments are by far the most popular way that viruses find their way into the users computer system. When the MicrosoftsOutlook Express automatically opens attachments to emails received,the virus in automatically unleashed on the system. However, mostusers now tend to avoid opening attachments they are unfamiliarwith and instead resort to immediately deleting them to ensure thevirus does not gain access into the system.

Roguewebsitesareanother problem area for unleashingviruses. Sometimes the virus is introduced into the system by simplyvisiting websites without knowing the possibility of the virus beingembedded in the sites content. Thus when the site is downloaded, sowill be the virus too.

Networks are also another popular way the virus is able to gainsome momentum, as any user on the same server opening a sitewhere there is a virus will unleash the virus onto other users systemstoo. It usually takes only one party to accidently open an infected siteand all the other users on the network will be exposed to the virusinfecting their systems too.
Infected disks are sometimes the cause of the virus spreading, as the user of the infected disk is the source of the hard drive beinginfected and thus corrupting all the material on the hard drive itself.

A viruses in itself, is a very damaging program and when unleashed on a computer system, the damage can be quite devastating to say theleast. Even in the mildest form, viruses can and usually do, cause a lotof damage to the users system.

It would seem that the virus is able to show the vulnerability of theuser and the tools being used, while at the same time these viruses areable to display just how innovative the inventor can be if there is aneed toinflictonlinedamage,withoutany actualphysicalintervention. Phenomenal numbers have been documented within thevery small window of time that it takes to cause devastating damageto a computer system. Some of the damage done will not be able to berectified, thus causing the user to lose all the data permanently.Applications canalso belostbutusuallyitisfairlysimpleto download again but this is not so possible when it comes to data lost.

Viruses are usually designed to represent a small piece of softwarethat latches onto existing programs until it is activated and thenlaunches into damage mode. An example of such would be the almostunavoidableuseof spreadsheetsoftware,asthisparticular application is bound to be open often thus making it an ideal place toattach the virus to.

Emailvirusesarealso another area wherethereareusuallydevastating results from the invasion of a virus. This is especially so ifthe user tends to open attachments without proper care or scrutiny.

Trojan horses are also another simple computer programs that claimto perform with one objective, but usually comes with the intention of infecting the users system with a virus.

Having to deal with the possible onslaught of viruses attacking acomputer is already quite a challenge and when malware is added tothe equation, the frustration builds. Malware is a huge threat to thecomputer system being used as its damaging capabilities are quiteextensive.

Basically, any malware presence within a system will cause the usersbrowser to be hijacked, the search attempts to be redirected, whilehaving to contend with unnecessary pop up adds and also the sitesyou visit tracked.