Virus Centre
Welcome to the Virus Centre. Viruses tend to make more headlines these days as they become more advanced, and in some cases more destructive. Unfortunately, not everyone with a PC seems to be aware of the importance of anti-virus software, and this is one of the main reasons that viruses spread.
The aim of our 'Virus Centre' is to provide visitors with information regarding viruses, which we hope will be of use. For more in-depth information on viruses and anti-virus solutions, please visit Trend Micro.
Table of Contents
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- What is a computer virus?
- How do viruses spread?
- How can I prevent infection?
- What if I don't have any anti-virus software?
- Where can I find more information on viruses?
What is a computer Virus?
A computer virus is a program that replicates itself and in most cases is intended to cause damage to the computer it infects. Viruses attach themselves to other program files and execute whenever the host program executes. Their damage can range from altering your hard disks partition table to creating, modifying and deleting files, which in most cases results in lost data or an inoperable operating system. As well as the destructive side of viruses, they also degrade system performance by consuming valuable system memory, disk space and can slow network traffic. Some viruses have 'time bombs', these viruses do not make their presence known until a particular event occurs (such as a specific date). Whilst in their 'dormant' state, they usually replicate themselves, which leads to a bigger impact upon activation.
How do viruses spread?
Viruses are spread by: email, websites, ftp sites, BBS boards, copied software, demonstration software, floppy disks, network/shared files, and computer labs.
How can I prevent infection?
You can protect yourself against viruses by purchasing some anti-virus software and checking regularly for updates. Its also a good idea to keep up to date with the latest viruses, so that you can both identify and remove them should your computer become infected.
What if I don't have any anti-virus software?
You can purchase anti-virus software from numerous vendors (both single & network licences). Alternatively, you can visit our Online Virus Scan page and scan your computer online.
Where can I find more information on viruses?
Visit our Latest Viruses page. Alternatively, you can view the geographical location and popularity of the latest viruses with Trend Micro's Virus Tracker.