How a Virus Spreads & How to Recover
One of the most dangerous forms of malicious code is the computer virus, which alone is responsible for lost work hours, lost data and several other annoyances. While viruses will be around for the foreseeable future, there are measures that you can take to prevent (or at least minimize) any harm a virus can cause you.
First, let's look at what a virus is and how it spreads. In the strictest sense, a virus is a program that requires you to do something to run it so it can do its dirty work. This can include booting the system, running an infected program or something else. Once a virus is running it can do anything from simply annoying you (i.e. flashing a message on your screen) all the way up to erasing data or damaging hardware. It is also worth noting that there are other types of code that are called "viruses," but they are technically something different. These include trojans, worms and logic bombs. Trojans look harmless but carry a dangerous payload with them. Worms are a type of code that replicates and spreads without interaction from you. Logic bombs are invaders that wait until a certain date, time or other event to occur before they carry out their behavior.
So what do you do if you are infected by a virus? First, do some research to see if the problem you are experiencing is actually being caused by a virus. Next, update your antivirus program and see if it can remove the infection. This will fix your problem most of the time. In the event that you have a more serious infection you should take a close look at the behavior of your computer. Do more research to determine if there is a virus causing the problem, then you can see what steps need to be taken to remove the offender. If it is a really stubborn virus you might be able to download a utility from an antivirus vendor's Web site. In the case of extremely bad infections you just might have to take it to a professional.
What do all these types of attackers have in common other than the fact that they are dangerous? They can all be prevented. Installing an antivirus program is one of your first lines of defense. Also installing a personal firewall on your system can stop a virus from infecting your system as well as keep an infection from spreading from your system to others. Make sure you don't open email attachments from individuals or organizations you do not know or did not request information from. Being mindful of who you share media with is yet another effective means of protection. Your antivirus software should be updated often. Updates act like the booster shot you get from a doctor every few years to keep your vaccinations up-to-date. Another great way to protect yourself is to back up your data. By doing this one simple thing regularly you can prevent a potential catastrophic loss of data in the event that you do get infected. The number one thing you can do is acquire education. Simply understanding what's out there and how it can harm you as well as using common sense when working with unfamiliar environments and media can go a long way to keeping you out of harm's way.
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