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It seems like every month there is a story in the news about a computer virus threatening to wreak havoc upon the computers of the world. Some end up being more hype than actual problems, but there are viruses out there that can severely damage your software and permanently destroy your files. The following is some information, some "preventative medicine" if you will, that can help you keep your computers and electronic documents safe from computer viruses.

1. What Is a Computer Virus?

According to Computer Currents High-Tech Dictionary, a computer virus is "a program that infects a computer by attaching itself to another program, and propagating itself when that program is executed." What this means is that a virus is a program like all the other programs that operate on your PC or Mac. But unlike your operating system or word processing programs, which perform good functions, a virus is a program that tries to break, alter, or erase other files on your machine.

There are a number of different effects viruses can have on computers. Some viruses make starting up your computer impossible. Others attach themselves to individual files and change or erase the information within them. Some viruses are less harmful and only display a "humorous" message or image on your monitor.

2. How Can My Computer Be Infected With a Virus?

A virus can be spread from one computer to another by any method you use to share files between computers. These methods include downloading infected files from a floppy disk or over network connections.

Many people think that viruses can be spread through e-mail, but this is not a whole-truth. Computer viruses can only be passed between computers as files attached to e-mail messages-- they can't be spread as text in an actual e-mail message. Because of this, it is important for you to make sure that your computer is not set up to automatically open and run files attached to e-mail messages you receive. Also, it's a good idea to only open files attached to e-mail messages you receive from people you know.

3. Are Viruses PC or Mac Specific?

Most viruses will only infect either Macintoshes or PCs. The reason for this is because viruses, like most other computer programs, will only run on one kind of operating system. For example, you can have spreadsheet software for a Mac and spreadsheet software for a PC, but the Mac-specific software will not run on the PC and vice versa. Viruses, like most other programs, tend to be operating system specific.

One exception to this rule is commonly called the Microsoft Word Macro virus. The reason a virus like this one can cross operating systems is because it infects documents that rely on a Microsoft Word source code that is the same for both the Mac and Windows versions of the software. If parts of the software for Macs and PCs are written with the same source code, it makes it more likely that a virus attacking that aspect of the software would affect both types of computers.

4. I Heard a Rumor About a Computer Virus Going Around. Is it Real or a Hoax?

For every real virus circulating among computers these days there are probably 10 hoax viruses, or viruses that do not exist except in the realm of technological mythology. If you hear about a virus and want to know whether it is a real threat or just the computer equivalent of an urban legend there are several trustworthy online resources you can turn to for information. They include:

Computer Virus Hoaxes
http://www.cvc.org/hoaxes.htm


Data Fellows - Integrated Solutions for Enterprise Security
http://www.datafellows.com/virus-info/hoax/


Stiller Research Virus Hoax News
http://www.stiller.com/hoaxes.htm


Symantec AntiVirus Research Center (makers of Norton AntiVirus)
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html

The following are some steps you can take to help keep your computer free of viruses:

1. Install virus protection software on your computer. Some popular and effective brands include McAfee Anti-Virus and Norton AntiVirus. Virus protection software has to be upgraded at regular intervals because there are always new viruses being spread that might not be detected by old versions of the software.
   

2. Scan disks you put into your computer for viruses before you transfer files from them onto your hard drive.
   

3. Write-protect your computers' floppy boot disk and other important floppy disks you use. Write-protecting a disk means that you prevent new data or files from being saved onto them.
   

4. Copy files you have saved on your hard drive onto a floppy disk at regular intervals. This way, if something goes wrong and you lose files from your hard drive, you will at least have copies of the files as they were prior to the backup date.
   

The best way to live in a world where viruses can infect your computer and destroy months or years of hard work is to be a well-informed and rational computer user. Protect yourself and your interests by understanding how viruses can be passed from machine to machine, by obtaining some virus protection software, and by checking out virus warnings to determine if they are hoaxes or not.

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