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I looked up the definition of VIRUSES in one of my college textbooks. The definition given was --- “a virus is a program that migrates through networks and operating systems and attach themselves to different programs and databases. “ In short, a virus is a bad thing. These things can do some serious damage to your computer.
There are four basic types of viruses: boot sector, file, Trojan horse and macro. Creatingand knowingly spreading a virus is a very serious crime. It is also a federal offense punishable under the Computer Abuse Amendments Act of 1994.
A variant on the virus is a WORM. This destructive program fills a computer system with self-replicating information, clogging the system so that its operations are slowed way down or stopped. The most infamous is know as the Internet Worm. In 1988, it traveled across North America, stopping thousands of computers along the way.
Viruses and worms typically find their way into a computer through copied floppy disks, downloaded programs or as attachments to Email messages. Because viruses can be so serious, computer owners are advised to exercise extreme caution in accepting new programs and datafrom unknown sources. They should NEVER open up an attachment to an Email message, sent from someone unknown to them.
Detection programs called VIRUS CHECKERS are available to alert users when certain kinds of viruses enter a computer system. Three of the most widely used are Dr. Solomons' Anti-Virus, McAffee Virus Scan and Norton AntiVirus. Unfortunately, new viruses are being developed all the time. These programs can detect many, and not all viruses. Once you purchase one of these virus checkers, you need to UPDATE it frequently. These updates are usually provided FREE of charge to the program owner.
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