COMPUTER VIRUS AND ANTI-VIRUS

COMPUTER VIRUS AND ANTI-VIRUS

The computer network has become very wide and interconnected network throughout the world. Therefore, any network connected to the internet without any security infrastructure makes it vulnerable to the attacks of computer viruses. Computer virus is a small software program which is designed in such a way that it affects the computer system and its network by making copies of itself or by executing or replicating without knowledge.'Creeper Virus' was the first virus found on the ARPANET, the forerunner of the internet in the early 1970s. There are many types of viruses. Some of them are as follows:-

• BOOT SECTOR VIRUS:- They affect the hard-disk and the floppy disk of the computer system and further affects the boot records.
•  PROGRAM VIRUS:- They affect the executable program files having extensions as .BIN, .COM, .SYS, .EXE, etc.
• FAT VIRUS:- They attack the hard-disk section where important files and documents are stored and deletes them without knowledge.
• PARASITIC VIRUS:- They are also called  FILE VIRUS. When we first run a program which is already affected by computer viruses, the computer sees it as the part of the computer of the program and gives it the same rights as that of the program as a result of which it copies itself to the computer system and affects the computer network.
•  MACRO VIRUS:- This virus attacks MS Word documents. Its quantity can be easily increased by spam emails.

• WORMS:- It is a program similar to the computer virus. It is able to replicate itself and destroy the computer network. Ex) Mapson, Trile.C, etc.

Computer viruses spread due to sharing of USB Drives, CDs, Hard Drives, etc containing computer viruses which have already affected files and programs. Also, downloading software and programs from the internet, fake e-mails, etc lead to the spreading of viruses.

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Anti-virus software is a program which can be installed on to your computer to protect it from the viruses, worms, malwares, spywares, trojans, etc. It scans your computer, detects viruses and if it finds them, it removes them. It is supported by firewall software which protects your machine from hackers and viruses. It also protects your machine from web-based attacks and other threats. It keeps your system secure and monitors the network continuously for computer viruses. It prevents others from taking control of your computer.

 

Best Anti-Virus Software are:-

1. Norton 360 Security.
2. ESET NOD 32 Antivirus.
3. Kaspersky Antivirus.
4. Avira Antivirus.
5. AVG Antivirus. 
6. Trend Micro Antivirus. 
7. McAfee Antivirus.

 Preventions from Virus infections:- 

• Check all the disks(CDs, HDD, Floppy, etc) that were used in other PCs before using them.
•  To be alert before using public networks.
• To use original copies of Anti-Virus software i.e. licensed copies.
• Use a password to prevent your data from hackers.
• By keeping multiple backup copies of all your important data and files.
• By updating Anti-Virus software regularly to prevent your computer from the latest viruses.
• By keeping the Operating System up to date to improves OS security.
• By not opening the emails sent by an unknown sender.