Common Questions about Viruses

How do Viruses Spread?

Viruses spread when you run an infected program or start up your computer from a disk that has infected system files. Once a virus is in memory, it usually infects any program you run. If your program is a network application you can infect others on the network who use the application.

While many viruses stay active in memory until you turn off your computer, others stay active only as long as the infected program is running. Even though turning off your computer or exiting the application removes the virus from memory, the virus will still reside on the infected file, disk or application and will activate the next time you start your computer or run the application.

Can you get a virus from infected data?

Since data is not executed, your computer cannot become infected from data. Accordingly, email per se cannot transmit viruses and reading an email message will not infect your computer. However, attachments to email messages mail contain .exe files which when opened can infect your computer.

Can your computer get infected by being connected to a network?

You can not get infected by being connected to a network such as the internet, a bulletin board system (BBS), or even a local area network. You can of course download a program from the internet that contains a virus that only infects your computer if you execute the program.

Can you get a virus downloading a program?

Downloading a program in itself will not infect your computer. As indicated, if you download a program that contains a virus, you can get infected if you run the program.

Can You Get a Virus From Web Cookies?

When you visit a site, a bit of information can be stored to a file in your computer " known as a "cookie" for future reference. If you revisit the site, the "cookie" file permits the web site to identify you as a "return" guest - and offer you products suited to your interests. These bits of information are data files. Since data files can not be executed, you cannot get infected from a cookie.

Can You Get a Virus From Graphic files such as .BMP, .JPG or .GIF files?

Graphic files (such as .BMP, .JPG or *.GIF files) contain images which are not executed but simply displayed. They are data files and therefor cannot infect your computer. Beware however that some image files contain viewer programs that could contain a virus if you run them.

Is there a master program that can prevent all viruses?

There is no master program that can prevent or get rid of all viruses. Each program tries to detect the latest viruses but with so many viruses being create no one program can protect your computer.

Is a Trojan Horse a virus?

A Trojan Horse is a small program that can act like a virus but can't replicate itself. Trojan Horses pretend to be offering you a gift while at the same time containing a malicious hidden agenda. Antivirus programs don't recognize Trojan horses because they don't operate like traditional viruses.

Source: The Fraud Bureau

What's Infecting Your Computer?

Let's face it… the Internet is getting out of control.  A few years ago, broadband connections linked lucky users to a veritable ocean of digital information and entertainment, with promises of real-time video and unparalleled interactivity.  But reality has since hit surfers hard (especially those on a network or using a cable modem).  The future, now the present, isn't all it was cracked up to be.  The Internet is rife with headaches, so many in fact, that most people don't know the difference between a virus and the Trojan horse it rode in on.

Here's how to tell the difference between those potentially harmful buzzwords, and how to protect your PC from hackers and malicious programs: (Read more...)