How Do Computer Viruses Spread
Viruses can be spread several ways, including via networks, discs, email attachments or external storage devices like USB sticks. Since connections between devices were once far more limited than today, early computer viruses were commonly spread through infected floppy disks.
Today, links between internet-enabled devices are for common, providing ample opportunities for viruses to spread. According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, infected email attachments are the most common means of circulating computer viruses. Most, but not all, computer viruses require a user to take some form of action, like enabling macros or clicking a link, to spread.
How To Get Rid Of A Computer Virus
While malicious computer code spreads like the flu, theres one major difference between the two. Unlike the flu, we have a cure for computer viruses.
In years past, new computer viruses could be extremely difficult to root out. While there has been an influx of malicious computer viruses and other malware , weve also had growth in the antivirus and cybersecurity industries to combat it.
There are several steps you should take if your computer has a virus. The steps will differ depending on whether you have a PC or a Mac.
Perform Daily Full System Scans
Viruses, spyware, and malware are continually evolving. As a result, they can sometimes evade your protection methods and infect your computer system. Implement daily scans via your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-malware software to find, quarantine, and remove any malicious agents in your network before any damage is done.
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Take A Regular Backup Of Your Computer
No matter how secure a gold shop is, there is always a chance of robbery. Likewise, no matter how safe or secure you think your computer is, programmers will still find a way to throw malicious files inside your computer and infect it. Therefore, you should have a backup of your whole data to avoid any loss in such scenarios.
The best tool for a complete computer backup is EaseUS Todo Backup software which is also free to download. Moreover, it comes in 3 variants: Free, home and workstation.
The home version is recommended for individuals, while the workstation is for organizations. The best part about the home version is that you can integrate it with your computer, and it will keep adding all the data to its backup, which you download or install.
For the first backup attempt, you can start with the free backup software version.
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Use Quality Antivirus And Antimalware Protection
There are lots of free antivirus and antimalware programs available. But remember the old saying, You get what you pay for when it comes to software.
A free antivirus program might be better than nothing. But free programs are bare bones. They dont have everything you need to keep your computer free of malicious software.
First, lets look at a few definitions:
Malware is two words combined: malicious software. Malware is any program installed with malicious intent.
The term virus used to refer to malware. Now it defines programs that self-replicate after hooking into programs running on a Windows system.
Unbeknownst to you, these software programs keep track of your movements for a third party.
They can be somewhat harmless, only keeping track of website visits. But they can also be invasive and harmful, tracking all your keystrokes, including passwords!
This is a download that happens when you stop by an infected website. The website exploits browser weaknesses and holes allowing malware into your computer.
Named after the ancient Trojan war story, this is software that appears harmless but isnt. Because it appears harmless, you invite it in yourself. Later, you discover it was malware.
Do your research and look for well-reviewed antivirus and antimalware software. Make sure the software auto-updates often.
Experts register as many as 350,000 new viruses every day. So your antivirus software should be updated on an almost daily basis, which leads to the next point…
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Maintain Your Installed Programs
One of the primary ways viruses gain access to a system is through security lapses in existing software. A first step to prevent your computer from getting infected is to ensure your applications, antivirus software and operating system are up to date.
This is doubly important for your operating system since Apple, Microsoft and other providers regularly release security patches to deal with potential cybersecurity weaknesses. You can also reduce potential vulnerabilities for cybercriminals to exploit by uninstalling applications you dont use.
Key takeaway:Upgrading your technology, including your operating system and hardware, can boost your businesss cybersecurity by closing vulnerabilities.
Random Connections To Unknown Websites
Another sign of an infection is when your legitimate antivirus software alerts you that an application is trying to connect to a website youve never heard of.
In general, your computer doesnt make its own connections someone has to initiate them. If you didnt initiate these connections, problematic software could be doing it for you.
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How We Can Help
There are other methods and technology to safeguard your computer against ever-evolving cyber threats. We can help you assess your present environment and assist you in developing a specific strategy to protect your systems and data with a strong cybersecurity plan. Our cybersecurity professionals can analyze key aspects of your organization and make specific recommendations to address current and emerging threats.
Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.
CliftonLarsonAllen is a Minnesota LLP, with more than 120 locations across the United States. The Minnesota certificate number is 00963. The California license number is 7083. The Maryland permit number is 39235. The New York permit number is 64508. The North Carolina certificate number is 26858. If you have questions regarding individual license information, please contact .
What Is A Trojan Horse
A trojan horse is a malicious software program that hides inside other programs. It enters a computer hidden inside a legitimate program, such as a screen saver. Then it puts code into the operating system that enables a hacker to access the infected computer. Trojan horses do not usually spread by themselves. They are spread by viruses, worms, or downloaded software.
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The Negative Impact Of A Computer Infection
A virus or malware will negatively impact your system, leaving you vulnerable to fraud, but the degree of impact depends on the infections type and scope. Here are some of the possible consequences of a computer infection:
- Loss of performance: Malware can make your computer process things more slowly, hogging system resources and taking far longer than usual to get work done.
- Loss of bandwidth: Botnets are networks of computers serving a central remote system, often distributing large volumes of data and consuming all broadband bandwidth.
- Loss of function: In extreme cases, the virus can degrade your computer performance or programming so severely that you can no longer use your machine.
- Exposure to other dangerous software: The purpose of some malware is to entice you to download even more dangerous software.
- Loss of information: Viruses might delete stored files or data, while ransomware may destroy your entire hard drive if specific demands arent met.
- Breach of privacy: Viruses sometimes seek to gather information for identity theft or fraud. This could result in financial losses if your accounts are breached and even punitive fines if your firm didnt follow local and state business regulations surrounding data privacy.
Tip: To address data privacy laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act and the EUs General Data Protection Regulation , conduct a risk assessment to see how well your business complies and where youre vulnerable to data breaches.
Keep Your Computer Up To Date
All operating systems on computers get frequent updates that enhance features but also include security patches that will fill security holes before cyber criminals do. While we know that updates are a bit of a pain, they are far less inconvenient thnt getting a virus on your computer. We encourage our clients to enable automatic updates on their computers in addition to running updates for programs such as Adobe and Java. Before you allow any updates, ensure that you are on a secured connection and not at a coffee shop for instance.
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Tips To Prevent Computer From Virus Attack
- TIP:1 Use computers and laptops with modern operating systems
- TIP:2 Apply all updates immediately
- TIP:3 Use paid computer antivirus program
- TIP:4 Look after your devices physically
- TIP:5 Be concerned about what physical media you use
- BONUS: Use comodo antivirus to get the protection you need
#1, Only Use Computers and Mobile Devices with Modern Operating Systems
Apple, Google and Microsoft have all been improving the security of their operating systems over the course of their existence. These improvements have been a combination of fixing recognized vulnerabilities and trying to monitor for threats and deal with them proactively. As a result, all the current iterations of the main operating systems have some form of inbuilt security app. Apple has XProtect , Google has Google Play Protect and Microsoft has Windows Defender. It would be highly unwise to rely on these systems on their own but they are a good place to start.
For a case study in what can happen when you use an out-of-date operating system, do an internet search on Wannacry virus 2017 and read up about the devastation it caused. The WannaCry virus exploited a vulnerability in Windows XP, which had been discontinued in 2008. In other words, the computers it infected were running an operating system which was nearly a decade out of date.
#2, Apply All Updates Promptly
#3, Invest Some Money in a Good Antivirus Program
#4, Look After Your Devices Physically
#5, Be Careful About What Physical Media You Use
History Of Computer Viruses
The first known computer virus was developed in 1971 by Robert Thomas, an engineer at BBN Technologies. Known as the Creeper virus, Thomas’ experimental program infected mainframes on the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , displaying the teletype message: “I’m the creeper: Catch me if you can.”
The first computer virus to be discovered in the wild was Elk Cloner, which infected Apple II OSes through floppy disks and displayed a humorous message on infected computers. Elk Cloner, which was developed by 15-year-old Richard Skrenta in 1982, was designed as a prank, but it demonstrated how a potentially malicious program could be installed in an Apple computer’s memory and prevent users from removing the program.
The term computer virus wasn’t used until a year later. Fred Cohen, a graduate student at the University of Southern California , wrote an academic paper titled “Computer Viruses — Theory and Experiments” and credited his academic advisor and RSA Security co-founder Leonard Adleman with coining the term computer virus in 1983.
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How To Secure Your Computer From Hackers
Despite the prevalence of computer hackers, most businesses rely on the internet to track their financials, order and maintain inventory, conduct marketing and PR campaigns, connect with customers, engage in social media, and perform other critical operations. Yet we continue to hear about massive computer breaches, even at giant corporations with robust security measures in place.
Small businesses are often targeted as well, especially because they may underestimate the risk of cybercrime and may not have the resources to employ expensive cybersecurity solutions. Follow these tips to protect your devices and safeguard your sensitive data:
Symptoms Of A Computer Virus
We can take all of the steps there are to prevent computer viruses, but an infection can sometimes just happen, and they can slip past your defenses. And when they are in, they arent exactly rushing to tell you that. There are however, some tell-tale signs that your computer has been infected with a computer virus:
- Computer has an unusually slow performance
- Unexpected and frequent crashes
- Increased number of pop-ups on seemingly normal websites
- Unfamiliar programs that prop up when you turn on your computer
- Changes to your homepage
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Examples Of Computer Viruses
In 2013, the botnet virus Gameover ZueS was discovered to use peer-to-peer downloading sites to distribute ransomware and commit banking fraud. While tens of thousands of computer viruses still roam the internet, they have diversified their methods and are now joined by several malware variants like:
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Worms – A worm is a type of virus that, unlike traditional viruses, usually does not require the action of a user to spread from device to device.
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Trojans – As in the myth, a Trojan is a virus that hides within a legitimate-seeming program to spread itself across networks or devices.
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Ransomware – Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a users files and demands a ransom for its return. Ransomware can be, but isnt necessarily, spread through computer viruses.
Unexplained File Or Folder Changes
Your files might be missing, or the icons and content of your files may be different. Your computer wont make these types of changes to your files unless you have a virus or technical problem, though corrupted browser bookmarks shouldnt be regarded as a warning sign. Its common for bookmark icons to become jumbled by a browser such as Chrome.
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Dont Use Internet Explorer
Old habits can die hard but we now live in an exciting time. We have so many browsers to choose from. Whether you prefer Chrome, Firefox or Opera, any of those choices are safer than Internet Explorer. While the newer versions of Internet Explorer are an improvement over the past versions, they are still a far cry from the quality of Chrome or Firefox. We saw significant improvement in online security with our clients with just switching to a different browser. And when you choose a better browser keep it updated!
How To Avoid Getting A Computer Virus Or Worm
This article was co-authored by Luigi Oppido. Luigi Oppido is the Owner and Operator of Pleasure Point Computers in Santa Cruz, California. Luigi has over 25 years of experience in general computer repair, data recovery, virus removal, and upgrades. He is also the host of the Computer Man Show! broadcasted on KSQD covering central California for over two years.The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article’s instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 546,987 times.
The internet is a vital part of many lives, and some of us use it constantly throughout the day. But that constant usage has increased the risk of infection by viruses and malware, leading to potential data loss and identity theft. Every internet user should be versed in how to prevent virus infection and what to look for. Think of it as a driver’s manual for the internet superhighway. Armed with the knowledge to avoid getting and spreading virus infections, you’ll not only make the internet safer for yourself, but for everyone else you connect with.
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Importance Of Cybersecurity For Remote Workforces
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the global adoption of remote work as a new, potentially transformative norm. But remote work also represents a golden opportunity for cybercriminals, who have found employees working from home, under loose supervision, to be soft targets for hacking. Hackers are using increasingly novel, sophisticated tools. But more mundane exploits, including oldschool malware and socialengineeringmethodssuch as phishing and vishing, are seeing a resurgence as remote employees or contractorspreoccupied with work and inexpert in cybersecurityprove vulnerable.
Remote employees are soft targets for hackers and cyberspies.
Mid-level employees have difficulty thinking of themselves as targets for industrial spies or state-sponsored cyberspies. Construction firms have also been targeted by hacks and ransomware attacks. The manufacturing industry, long considered lax in its cybersecurity standards in comparison to other industries, had by 2020 become the second-most targeted industry for ransomware and data-theft exploits, after financial services.
Make Sure Youre On The Right Website
Take a quick look at a websites domain to make sure youre on the correct site before you submit personal information or download anything. If youre going to download Microsoft Office, make sure youre on Microsoft.com, not Microsftoff.com. Its a small detail, but thats exactly how people get malicious software.
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Restart Your Computer In Safe Mode
Starting your computer in safe mode gives you a chance to run your antivirus software and take a closer look at the issue. Begin by rebooting the computer.
- Windows: On a Windows PC, press and hold F8 as soon as the reboot begins, and then choose Safe Mode from the menu that appears.
- Mac: On a Mac, hold down the Shift key while rebooting, and then perform an antivirus scan to eliminate any other potential infections.
Turn On Smartscreen Filter For Microsoft Store Apps:
Windows Defender SmartScreen can protect your device by checking web content that Microsoft Store apps use. You can follow this guide to turn it on:
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Tips To Protect Your Computer From Viruses And Malware
It may be a new year, but an old scam is making the rounds of online computer users.
The FBI recently issued a warning about a computer scam that starts on the telephone: You get a call from someone claiming to work for a major software company. They tell you your computer is sending error messages to them over the Web, and theyve detected a virus. No problem, however: All you have to do is pay them a fee and theyll remotely fix your computer by installing anti-virus software on it.
Once the caller has your credit card number and access to your computer, they dont remove viruses, however they install them.
In October, the Federal Trade Commission cracked down on a similar scam that charged computer users from $49 to $450 to remove malware from their computers. The agency estimated tens of thousands of computer users fell prey to that scam.
The way to defeat these scams is simple enough dont give strangers your credit card numbers or access to your computer. But lets take a look at eight additional ways you can protect yourself from viruses and malware: