What Is A Computer Virus
A computer virus is not a myth. You can get a computer virus if you surf the Internet, open email attachments or use an infected floppy disk. But what is a computer virus? A computer virus is a program that attaches itself to the operating system of a computer. The codes in the program manage to take control of the operating system telling it what to do. |
Invariably a computer virus is harmful wherein it can command your computer to delete important files or can stop it from functioning. But not computer viruses are developed in this manner. There are some which are nothing but irritants and do cause harm to your computer.
Just as we can get viruses from coming in contact with an infected person, your computer too can get infected in the same manner. A computer virus infection can easily spread from one infected computer to another through downloading of files from the Internet or email attachments or infected floppy disks.
However, most of the viruses are spread via emails. Your computer can get infected just by reading an email. There are certain strains of viruses that do not require you to even open the email attachment. Just reading the email with the infected attachment is sufficient to get a computer virus.
Usually when you have a computer virus, it will lie dormant until the program that contains the virus is activated. For example if you download a program from the Internet which contains a computer virus, the virus will start attacking your computer only after the downloaded program is run by you.
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