What is a virus - computer

This virus targets COM and EXE files, but have also been found in other executable files. some viruses are memory resident which will infect every file run after that one. Other are “direct action” injectors that immediately infect other files on your hard drive then leave. Another way viruses infect your system is if they are polymorphic. Polymorphism is where the virus changes itself with every infection so it is harder to find.

A computer virus is a software program that affects the computer operation and it can potentially damage the computer. A computer virus is attached to a program or a file which allows it to spread from one computer to another when the program is running. Most of the viruses are attached to an executable file which allows the virus to stay on the computer but cannot do any damage until you open or run the infected program. Viruses are capable of corrupting or deleting data from the computer. They can also infect other computers.

A boot sector virus replaces the startup code on a disk with a modified version, which is loaded into the memory when the computer is started. Program viruses attach to legitimate program files. After attachment the program file will then intercept the program’s execution and take control of the computer system. Trojan horse viruses are also legitimate programs that are advertised as something desirable, but are actually something that is undesirable. It performs an unauthorized destructive act on your computer when executed.

("Computer," 1997) Today, they are e-mail attachments, filetransfers and infected software downloads or uploads. Networks can evenspread viruses to large numbers of connected PCs rapidly. (Yang, 1998) Noone working on a [personal computer] is risk free; more viruses are beingspread today than ever before, but more help is being developed as well.Special software is now in stores that will help to prevent any majordisasters that viruses can cause. (Miastkowski, 1998) Antivirus software isa program that protects against viruses. It scans all files on the hard disk,diskettes, CD ROM, and memory to locate viruses.

Computer Viruses A computer virus is an illegal and potentially damaging computer program designed to infect other software by attaching itself to any software it contacts. In many cases, virus programs are designed to damage computer systems maliciously by destroying of corrupting data. If the infected software is transferred to or accessed by another computer system, the virus spreads to the other system. Viruses have become a serious problem in recent years, and currently, thousands of known virus programs exist (Reed 85-102)b. Three types of viruses are a boot sector virus, file virus, and Trojan horse virus.

Computer Viruses Explain the difference between viruses, worms and Trojan horses in the context of computer and data security. Discuss the measures that need to be taken in order to maintain security. There is a type of computer program that is designed and written to destroy, alter or damage data stored on computers without your knowledge or permission. These are some of the problems that these programs cause ? Your computer displays annoying messages ?

The computer virus infection is small software that can harm your computer; it disrupts computer function, and corrupts and wipes out data. The spread of a virus can occur in numerous ways. Ways that a virus can spread is through the opening of attachments to emails or other kind of messages, through downloading files from the internet, through visiting unknown websites and through installing un-trusted program files. One unique characteristic about a computer virus that differentiates from other malware is that a computer virus can only spread through human action. The computer virus can be on your computer without you knowing and the computer virus is only effective when you click on the infected program.

The logic kill is a virus triggered by a certain valueAppearing a certain part of the computers memory, either relevant to the virusesPurposes or at random. The Trojan horse is an innocent seeming programPurposely infects with a virus and circulated publicly. There is a cure forThese viruses, though. These "cures" are called remedies. A remedy is aProgram that watches for typical things viruses do, halts them, and warns theComputer operator.

Sometimes viruses might cause random damage to data files and over a long period of time they might destroy files and disk (Hanhisalo). Boot viruses are infected floppy disk that boot records or master boot records in hard disks. They replace copying it elsewhere on the disk overwriting it. Boost viruses load into memory if the computer tries to read it while it is booting. Examples of a boot virus are Form, Disk Killer, Michelangelo, and Stone virus.

A virus is a piece of code that spreads through some user interaction(going to a shady website or downloading a file), usually written with evil intentions. A virus infects files that already exist on systems. They are not their standalone programs. It is designed to wreak havoc on a computer and spread itself from one file to another, then from computer to computer. (“What Are Viruses, Worms, and Trojan