Virus Infections - Diseases that Affect Your Computer

What are Computer Viruses?

Computer viruses are usually programs with malicious intent that attach themselves to files or other computer. Some remain dormant on a computer until they are triggered by an event. New virus programs are written every day.

How Can Your Computer Catch a Virus?

• By sharing files through floppy disks that are accessed from different computers.
  
  
• By sharing files which are sent as attachments to e-mail.
  
  
• By downloading programs, files, or e-mail from the Internet.

How Can You Tell if Your Computer Has a Virus?

• It takes your computer longer to boot up.
  
  
• It takes longer than usual to run a program.
  
  
• Your computer hangs and freezes for no apparent reason.
  
  
• Hard disk space is suddenly much less than you expect.
  
  
• You get strange error messages or other strange messages.
  
  
• Unusual characters are displayed on your screen.

How Can You Prevent Virus Infections?

• Use an anti-virus software program that scans your computer for viruses and scans all files as you access them to make sure they are free of viruses.
  
  
• Scan every floppy disk before use.
  
  
• Avoid turning on your computer with a floppy disk in the drive. That is how boot sector viruses get transferred. Do not accept the option to remove the disk and hit any key. Instead always turn your computer off and then back on.
  
  
• Update your anti-virus software on a regular basis (at least monthly).
  
  
• Back-up your files regularly.

Where Can You Get a Virus-protection Program?

Download it from the Web

Install one or, Update the one you currently have installed on your computer.

Purchase a program from a software store