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There’s a virus in my hard drive!

by Alexandra Middleton | 09 Jul 2013

A computer virus can cause havoc on your computer. But is there a way to stop them from attacking, and what should you be looking out for?

What is a computer virus?

A computer virus is a software program designed to maliciously spread from one computer to another. Once infected, your computer can be affected by the virus in a number of ways, including slowing your computer’s performance or causing it to behave erratically or crash without warning.

Other viruses have the ability to delete programs or files, or wipe your hard drive completely. The power of a virus lies in its ability to spread without limitation between computers. This transfer can occur in a number of ways, for example, through email attachments, instant messaging programs or through internet downloads.

Wormy worries

Other forms of malicious programs, or Malware, that computer users need to be aware of are Trojans and worms.

Trojans masquerade as benign applications, which once downloaded will damage your computer.

Unlike viruses, Trojans cannot replicate themselves or be unknowingly passed on by you to others. They must be downloaded from the source.

Worms have the ability to replicate themselves, but unlike viruses, can only create copies on the same computer, or send copies to other computers via a network.

How do I know if my computer is infected?

The issue with viruses and other Malware programs is that you may not immediately realise they have infected your computer, giving them ample time to do damage.

Common signs of infection listed by the Microsoft Safety and Security Centre include:

  • Your computer is running slower than normal.
  • Your computer stops responding or freezes.
  • Your computer crashes and restarts every few minutes.
  • Your computer restarts itself and then fails to run normally.
  • Applications on your computer don’t work correctly.
  • Disk drives are inaccessible.
  • You can’t print correctly.
  • You see unusual error messages.
  • You see distorted menus and dialog boxes.

Protecting against infection

The best way to protect yourself against infection is to purchase antivirus and antispyware software and religiously update them.

Along with the automatic scans run by these programs, users should run manual full system scans to ensure that no bugs are missed.

Antivirus software programs provide simple step-by-step instructions that guide individuals through the process of virus removal. While there are free antivirus programs available for download, they do not offer the same level of up-to-date protection as the programs that need to be purchased.

To further protect your computer set up a security firewall.  

A firewall is a built-in feature on most computers that can be turned on to block hackers, viruses and worms that may try to access your computer via the internet. Some operating systems may have their firewall turned on by default. Your internet browser settings offer another level of protection, so be sure to check whether they are on the most secure setting available.

Tips to avoid viruses

By simply being cautious in the way you use your computer you can reduce your chances of unknowingly downloading a virus. Security company McAfee offers the following tips for virus detection and prevention.

  • Do not open email attachments from an unknown, suspicious or untrustworthy source, unless you know what it is, even if it appears to come from a friend or if the subject line is questionable or unexpected.
  • Delete chain emails and junk email. Do not forward or reply to any of them.
  • Do not download any files from strangers.
  • Exercise caution when downloading files from the internet. Ensure that the source is a legitimate and reputable one.
  • Update your antivirus software regularly.
  • Back up your files on a regular basis. If a virus destroys your files, at least you can replace them with your back-up copy.

At the end of the day the best piece of advice on offer is that when in doubt err on the side of caution.

Many virus protection companies have a news section on their websites where recently discovered threats are related. If you are unsure of the source of a download, make this your starting point.