|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 23 January 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Protect your computer from viruses A computer virus is a computer program that is written by a malicious author intending to harm or tease others. These viruses spread by copying themselves, then transferring on to other computers. According to statistics, around 53,000 computer viruses are in existence, with a new one detected every 18 seconds. A computer virus can do anything from popping up a short message to wiping key files, so that your computer doesn't work. The famous "ILOVEYOU" virus infected up to 45 million computers, causing US$7 billion worth of damage worldwide. Who writes computer viruses? Virus authors are normally 14-26 year old males, who spend a lot of time on their computers. Some of them want to prove they are good programmers. Others want to show that they have the power to cause large-scale problems. But most viruses don't constitute good programming, as many fail to achieve all they intended. Many are re-hashed versions of old programs that require little skill to produce. In countries like the UK, if you're caught using a computer with criminal intentions, you can be subjected to a five-year sentence and an unlimited fine. If convicted of 'cyber-terrorism', you are liable to the same sentence given to a terrorist bomber. How do you catch a virus writer? Although the Internet allows computer viruses to spread quickly, it also helps to catch their authors. Each computer connected to the Internet has an address, similar to a phone number. This is called an IP address. Every email you send is marked with your IP address and this information is hard to remove. Hunting hackers Your IP address reveals what company (Internet Service Provider) holds your account. The company can then find out which customer sent the mail. Sophisticated virus authors would be able to cover their tracks to some degree, but there is usually some way to track them down. What to do if you get a virus Even if you are careful to avoid a computer virus, you may still be unlucky. To stop viruses attacking your computer, you'll need to get a piece of software called a virus scanner. Many people put off getting a decent virus scanner because it costs too much, or they think they won't get a virus. Before you go and spend a lot of cash on a virus scanner, it is worth understanding what they do. A typical virus scanner will have two main functions: scan for new viruses entering your computer, clean up any viruses it finds and make sure they can't do any more harm. Virus scanners are software that run all the time. So when you start up your computer, the virus scanner will also start. This ensures that viruses are caught as soon as possible. The virus scanner will always try to rescue any files it can. There are some viruses that don't destroy files, instead they 'corrupt' files so they cannot be used. Good virus scanners can often reverse this. If the scanner cannot repair a file, it will place it in a secure area so you won't ruin it by accident. Online virus scanners If you don't yet have a virus scanner but think you might have a virus, then try using an online virus scanner. These software work by sending you a small program over the internet. From there you can find out if you really have a virus. If you do, it is time to purchase some anti-virus software. How to avoid catching a virus A computer virus isn't dangerous until the infected email is opened. Delete any mail you think is infected and empty your deleted items folder. Don't open any attachment you are not sure about, even if you have a virus scanner Read email carefully. Check that the contents of the message makes sense before you open any attachments. Don't forward any attachment to a friend without being sure it is safe. Make sure you have a recent backup of your most important work. Don't place backup floppy disks in your computer if you think you have a virus, as the virus could spread to your backups. If you get a computer virus, you'll need to use a virus scanner to get rid of it. Don't be over-confident just because you have a virus scanner. You will still need to keep your eyes open in case a new virus emerges. Courtesy : BBC.CO.UK |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
