In my early years acquiring computer skills, I have always asked myself what computer viruses were? Well, computer viruses are in fact software programs that are designed to interrupt the normal functions or process of a computer. In other words to interfere with computer operations. All computer viruses are man-made.
Computer viruses are able to spread by various means. Examples are by attachment in email messages, hotspot downloading website etc. Care should be taken when opening a mail in your inbox. Make sure you know who is sending. One can also prevent computer viruses by installing latest version of Anti-virus software.
Get a One Year Free Anti-Virus Subscription.
The main types of computer viruses are as follows:
Trojan Horse
Spyware
Adware
Worms
Boot-sector Viruses
Time bombs
Boot Sector Virus
Browser Hijacker
File Infector Virus
Polymorphic Virus
Macro Virus
Web Scripting Virus
Trojan Horse
Trojan Horse most a times are hidden within another program that may seen harmless.
Spyware
As the name suggest, is a program that monitor your actions on your computer. Key-logger program is a perfect example. The program records every key stroke and mouse click you make. In other words every activities on your computer.
Adware
Adware is generally annoying. Is a program designed to pop up unwanted advertisements on your computer.
Worms
A worm is a program that reproduce or duplicate itself and spread across all files and folders. Worm will end up taking most of your memory space which will slow the process of your computer.
Boot Sector Virus
Not so common anymore, but they were nasty little programs that got loaded into your master boot record. Most commonly spread by floppy disks. These viruses could then launch themselves before your operating system even loaded. Today most BIOS prevents code from being written to the boot sector.
Time Bomb
As the name suggest, is a program timed to operate at an expected period by the coder.
Browser Hijacker
A program that automatically redirect your web browser to another website.
File Infector Virus
File Infector Virus comes in extension .exe files. When executed it run some unwanted code.
Polymorphic Virus
A program that disguises itself in order to evade virus detection.
Macro Virus
A virus that hides itself inside of macros used by programs such as Microsoft Excel.
Web Scripting Virus
A program that take over websites that are not properly secured.
Image courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos
