Guest Author - Debbie Jacobsen

What is a Computer Virus?

A virus is a computer code that has been designed to "spread" and replicate itself by passing from computer to computer. It is a piece of software that piggybacks on legitimate programs like Excel, Word, WordPerfect, Outlook, etc... When the program is run, the virus is triggered to run too. Viruses can be destructive in nature, and can cause a wide range of problems ranging from operating system and file corruption to getting blamed for email spamming. Some viruses are just annoying, but cause no damage.

How do Computers get Viruses?

Viruses usually find their way into computers through networks (local networks as well as the internet) by taking advantage of unpatched security vulnerabilities (holes) in software or by receiving an infected file via email, download or shared disk. Depending on the type of virus, it may be embedded in an Excel or Word file, or may be designed to infect upon the opening of an email. Once infected, a computer can literally infect thousands of other computers by quietly spreading the virus without the user even knowing about it.

How to Protect Against Computer Viruses

Computer viruses are highly prevalent in our world today, and unless your computer is running as a stand-alone machine with no connection to the internet and you never transfer files to it from floppy, USB or CDRom, it is essential to use some form of anti virus software. Anti virus software is designed to identify and destroy (or isolate) all viruses as they are introduced to your computer. Because new viruses are introduced every day, even the best anti virus software might not work if it is not updated regularly. For an anti virus solution to work properly, its database must be updated regularly with the newest virus definition files.

How Anti Virus Software Works

Virus definition files tell the anti virus software what code characteristics to look for while monitoring your computer. When a certain file type or activity occurs that matches a characteristic, the anti virus software blocks the execution of code and alerts you that a virus has been found. The virus is then isolated and destroyed.

Hundreds of new computer viruses are introduced onto the internet each week, and as antivirus software developers find these new viruses, they create updates of the virus “definitions” in order to provide the antivirus software with a way to identify and destroy even the newest of viruses. It is extremely important to update your antivirus software every day in order to make sure you have the most current virus definitions available. Fortunately, most modern anti virus software comes with an “automatic update” feature that makes this task a one time “set it and forget it” kind of thing.

The Importance of Automatic Updates and Antivirus Subscription Renewal

Anti virus software requires an annual subscription, which keeps the automatic update feature working, and also makes sure you have the most recent release of the product. Many people make the mistake of purchasing antivirus software, which normally includes 12 months of updates, and then forget to renew their subscription the next year. When the anti virus update subscription runs out, automatic updates stop – leaving your PC vulnerable to all new viruses. If you’re running antivirus software, be sure to check it regularly to make sure it’s updating daily. If not, chances are your subscription ran out and you missed the email notification.