Virus Info

Learn what a Virus is.

A computer virus is a parasitic program designed to intentionally enter a computer without the user's permission or knowledge. The word parasitic is used because a virus attaches to files or boot sectors [the area on hard drives and floppy drives that starts up Windows or DOS when you turn on your computer] and replicates itself in order to continue to spread. Though some viruses do little but replicate, others can cause serious damage or affect program and system performance. A virus should never be assumed harmless and left on a system.

Computer Worm (Definition)
Worms are very similar to viruses in that they are computer programs that replicate themselves and that often, but not always, contain some functionality that will interfere with the normal use of a computer or a program.

The difference is that unlike viruses, worms exist as separate entities; they do not attach themselves to other files or programs. A worm can spread itself automatically over the network from one computer to the next. Worms take advantage of automatic file sending and receiving features found on many computers.

There are many types of viruses. They include "worms", "trojans" (from the Greek story of the Trojan Horse), "stealth" viruses, "encrypted" viruses, and "macro" viruses, among others. From your point of view, what each of these viruses does, exactly, doesn't matter. What does matter is that they are all potentially very harmful to your data, your system files, or, in rare cases, computer hardware; are designed to spread to other computers by one of several clever means; can infect your computer without your knowledge; can be sent to you by someone you know and trust, because THEY are unaware they have it; are frequently designed to "mutate" and do more damage the longer they are undetected; and are rarely "fixable" without using anti-virus software specifically designed for that purpose.

Myth:
Opening an email message and reading it can give your computer a virus. This is NOT true. The simple act of downloading email and reading the email message CANNOT infect your computer with a virus.

Fact:
Opening an attachment to an email CAN give your computer a virus. In fact, this is the most common method today of spreading a virus. ALL email attachments must be scanned by an anti-virus program in order for you to open that attachment with reasonable safety.

Myth:
There are a number of email viruses with special subject lines that are especially damaging, and you should "pass information to everyone you know" about these viruses. Wrong! These widespread and alarming email warnings about viruses are hoaxes. Real viruses do exist and they can be nasty. However, when you receive an email message warning you of a "special new virus" and urging you to "forward this warning to everyone you know", you are contributing to the real intent of the original writer of the message -- clogging up the internet and your friends' inboxes with messages about non-existent dangers. If you receive a message about a "new virus", please check that information at responsible websites, like the following