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Virus Protection
by Josh Lewis / Torre Lasley (January 6, 2001)
As computer use becomes more
widespread, so does the rate of virus transmissions. Although nearly every
computer virus can be detected using modern virus
protection software, sometimes anti-virus software alone is not enough.
Q: What is a virus?
Torre: A virus is any program which can replicate itself and spread
to other computers without the user's permission or knowledge. A virus
can be spread many different ways, and the payload, or outcome of execution,
is not always destructive. Some virii are content with simply replicating
themselves. These virii are called worms. Worms usually do not directly
harm a computer, but they can slow down a service (such as email) much
like a traffic jam. Another program commonly confused with a virus is
a trojan. A trojan, named after the legendary Trojan Horse, is a backdoor
program which normally allows another user the ability to control the
infected computer. A virus can also come in the form of a macro. Macros
are prerecorded commands that perform a specific function. Macro virii
are commonly spread through Microsoft Office documents. Microsoft Office
has built-in macro virus protection. It is not 100% effective, so it is
a good idea to keep your anti-virus software up
to date!
Q: Why are virii so widespread these days?
Josh: A large percentage of computer users
do not know what a virus is or how it spreads and they also usually use the same Operating
System (Windows 95/98, etc.). Thus, it is easy for a virus writer
to make a virus able to work on millions of computers.
Q: Can I get a virus from downloading files from a website?
Torre: When downloading files from the Internet, try to avoid sites
you do not trust. If you are downloading from a large corporate site such
as www.microsoft.com, chances of
virus transmission are limited. When receiving files from personal websites,
keep in mind that programs are usually not scanned routinely for the latest
virii. Although the site in question may not intentionally spread a virus,
the likelihood of infection is increased with smaller sites. So, when
in doubt, try to download files from a trusted provider and avoid personal
sites.
Q: What do I do when someone sends me a program through email?
Josh: Always be cautious when receiving files through email.
Email trasmission is the means in which most modern virii are spread.
Make sure you know and trust the person sending you the file before executing
it. Even though you know the person, there is no assurance that the file
does not contain a virus; the person may have unknowingly sent you a virus
or the person might be infected with a virus which sent itself to everyone
in their email list. Second, if you are not expecting the file and do
not know what it is, be very cautious. If you are ever uncertain about
a file, scan it with a virus scanner first, before
you run it.
Q: What about virus transmission through removable media (floppy disks, Zip disks, etc)?
Torre: Floppy disks and other forms of removable media greatly
increase the chances of accidental infection. Unlike most virii where
infection occurs upon execution of the file, floppy disk virii can be
spread through more covert methods. On every floppy disk there is a physical
portion of the disk which is allocated for system use. When a floppy disk
is accessed, even to simply inspect its contents or when using it to boot your computer,
a virus can be unleashed. Always ensure that your virus definition files
are up to date and be cautious of personal disks. If the disk is provided
by a manufactuer, make sure the write protection tab has not been removed
because a virus cannot attach itself to a disk if it cannot write to it.
Q: What if someone sends me a file in an online chat room?
Josh: Internet chat rooms are another means in which many virii and trojans
spread. You should be very cautious when you are in a chat room and use the
same precautions as you would with email.
Q: What do I do if I suspect I have a virus?
Josh: First, get the latest virus definition files
for your virus scanner. Next, run your virus scanner
and see if it detects a virus. If it does find one, have the virus scanner
remove and try to clean any files that are infected with the virus.
Sometimes virus scanners are not able to clean files that are infected
with certain malacious virii, resulting in a loss of data. Although most
can be removed from your system, there are still many that cannot and
your data may be corrupted. If this were to occur,
it would require you to completely re-install your operating system and
software. Thus, it is always a good idea to keep a backup of all important
files. If your scanner finds a virus, you can find information about the
specific virus at many of the following places.
Links:
Antivirus Software
Virus Research
Virus Definition Updates
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