Limax PC Services

Viruses

Viruses, worms and trojans are various types of rogue computer program. The precise differences have become blurred as "malware" (malicious software) will often exhibit attributes of more than one type. The term virus has come to be used to refer to any malicious rogue program. They are most commonly spread by email but may also be picked up from an infected disk, by downloading files from the Internet or even just by visiting a web site.

They will usually harm your system by altering, corrupting or deleting your files. They spread the infection by either attaching themselves to your outgoing emails, or by seeking out email addresses on your computer and emailing themselves. Some particularly nasty trojans will allow anyone to take full control of your system anytime that you are online, allowing them to do absolutely anything on your computer.

Protection

The most important protection is good anti-virus software. This should run on your system all the time and must be regularly updated. New viruses are appearing and spreading faster than ever. We can advise on anti-virus software, and install and configure it for you if required.

Even with good anti-virus software you should still act cautiously at all times. Think before opening an attachment and do not open one unless you were expecting to receive it. The fact that it appears to come from a friend does not mean it is safe. You should also ensure that your email program does not open attachments automatically. Some email programs are more secure than others.

Removal

You cannot remove a virus by just deleting it. Most viruses will have made changes to your system and the disinfection procedure is often complex, but it is rarely necessary to wipe the disk and reinstall everything.

Hoaxes

It is not uncommon to receive email warnings about viruses. They will usually claim to have the authority of a well known company and use pseudo-technical language to confuse and/or impress. They will also advise you to forward the email to your friends (or even to everyone in your address book). These are nearly always hoaxes but they spread as quickly as real viruses. Do not pass them on.

Sometimes they will tell you to look for a certain file on your disk and delete it immediately. The file is usually a system file which should not be deleted, but people will often find the file, think they have a virus, panic and delete the file.

If you receive such a warning you can check if it is a hoax by visiting the web site of you anti-virus software provider or a site specialising in hoaxes, such as www.vmyths.com or hoaxbusters.ciac.org.