Computer viruses: what they are, types and how to fight them

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Marie-Ange Demory
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Computer viruses are programs created to infect your PC or computer and can even be as dangerous as some they are able to steal the information stored in it . In addition to infecting everything in its path, it renders files virtually unusable, because not only will it damage the software on your PC, but the hardware may also be affected.

I virus informatici they are encrypted programs created by people or programmers , with the aim of causing both material and economic damage to most organizations; While there are also people who create viruses for academic purposes, the difference is that they never publish them, preventing users from harming themselves.



In addition, the latter works continuously in the development of antivirus that will serve to prevent a malicious program from infecting your computer, as in the case of the Microsoft Download Support which has several antivirus programs that will prevent your PC from contracting one.

How do I know if my computer is infected with a virus?

Any PC can contract malicious software as it is also known as these are found on download pages, infected links or simply by getting in touch by incorporating a mass storage unit better known as a pendrive. That is why it is very important to be aware of the signs that will tell you that your computer is infected with a virus, so pay close attention.

1. The speed of your computer

The first thing you should evaluate is whether the The speed at which your PC responds is changing , since when a computer becomes infected with any type of virus, it usually takes time to respond, i.e. slow down. While there are many other reasons why your laptop may be slow, viruses are the main culprits.



2. Error messages

Error messages on computers they should always sound the alarm , as they occur because some problem is generated inside the computers. So, if you see that your PC is indicating an error when shutting down or turning on, it is advisable to carry out an analysis or seek the specialist to do so. Since if it's not a virus, then maybe it's a software or hardware problem.

3. Evaluate the files on your computer

Another way to determine if your PC is infected with a virus is to check the status of the files, in which case what you should consider is if there are any recent files or if the extension of the documents is changed ; if so, make sure there is a malicious program on your computer. It should be noted that in such case you could quarantine the viruses on your PC, thus avoiding losing the documents and files that are in it.

4. antivirus

Finally, another method to find out if your computer is infected with a computer virus is scan it with an antivirus ; They also perform a full analysis, scanning all programs and software found on the computer and thus determining the status.

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How to fight computer viruses?

There is only one way to fight a computer virus, and that is by installing anti-virus software on your computer , since these programs are the only ones able to detect and eliminate viruses circulating on the Web in time. In this case it will be useful to know which are the best free Antivirus for PC; in this way you will be able to install the model or version that best suits you based on the activities you carry out daily on your computer.



However, there are some suggestions that continuous application will help you prevent your computer from getting infected with these problem viruses. The first thing is that you have to be careful what you download on networks, as there are many infected files with fake names circulating there. Likewise, never accept contact files you don't know and if you notice that when you enter a webpage it tells you it's not a safe place or place, you automatically close the tab.

By what means are computer viruses spread?

There are several ways that computer viruses can reach our devices. The most important thing to remember is that any piece of technology can be infected with a virus that alters its functions for an indefinite period. This applies to all household appliances such as televisions, computers, smart washing machines and so on.

Thanks to this, it is important that our virtual environments are protected with various protocols. These prevent hackers from log into your network and therefore steal your information.

When we talk about computers and their methods of infection, we will have to look at various activities we do on a daily basis that can lead to download on malware for our device.

Via e-mail

In case you are new to the technology field, you will need to realize that people use different means of communication over the net. In the case of several companies, a technology called e-mail has been developed, the operation of which is namesake of its name, since it is an e-mail, easily accessible on the computer.


Many companies that offer e-mail services have antivirus. The problem is that there are several that don't, and if you download a unsafely, you will put your computer's health at risk.


By file exchange (USB)

This is probably the most common way you caught viruses and malware during your high school or college days.

If you imagine that virtual viruses function like their counterparts in real biology, you are right. In fact, there are several types of viruses that do not spread across the network. In reverse, remain in the USB ports computer and wait the link a flash disk or memory.

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When you connect the USB, the virus infects that device without your knowledge and consequently infects the other devices you connect it to.

To download software from the Internet

Just as an infected file can be downloaded in an email, the same it can happen while downloading files.

Many people are drawn to game downloads that we would normally have to pay for through pages that can be fraudulent.

This is because yes, they offer the game in a "hacked" state. However, the breach of security you can get it will cost a lot more than the price of the video game you want to download. This is because games, having such a large number of lines of code, facilitate the process of hiding a virus in its files.

What types of computer viruses are there?

It is important to know that viruses present themselves in different ways, as there are different targets they seek.

We usually get hold of Trojan-type viruses, which we usually end up with delete files from our computer.

On the other hand, viruses can also be malware, which can present themselves as keyloggers and reboots, as well spies of microphones and cameras.

However, based on the way they attack , computer viruses can be classified as:

Direct-acting virus

These are the most common type of virus out there, as their target is the same as a virus in real life. These are just one line of code that affects the operation as it slows down the equipment during multiplication. It does this by infecting several files on your computer, until it infects them all.

Boot sector virus

Our computers are prepared in such a way that every time we press the power button, a special process is started by which the PC is "started". This process is monitored by a basic program that the PC has called the Boot Menu. When a virus affects operation, it can prevent your computer to start the operating system.

Resident viruses

Unlike direct-acting viruses, these do not multiply and try to infect multiple files at the same time. First and foremost the resident viruses are found only in the computer's RAM memory, as this is the one that hosts all the information for open and run programs.

When the virus infects these files, the operation of the program suffers as the virus is activated every time the program is opened.

polymorphic virus

Poly means varied and morpho means body. Polymorphic viruses are all those who are capable of hide their original algorithm in multiple layers of code which provide protection against antivirus and, therefore, a hiding place. These viruses change or mutate every time they are discovered to go unnoticed.

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Virus macro

This is the worst type of virus that can affect a program because the macro is the basic lines of code in which the program is created. When the virus hits these files, it renders unable to open the program because it interferes with the same files that allow the PC to perform the operation.

How to defend against a computer virus?

In this age where almost everything is digital, staying safe from a cyber attack is extremely important. That's why you should always make sure you follow certain protocols for avoid exporting online.

Some helpful tips would be using a VPN and constantly changing your account passwords. This is because the VPN hides the path from which you connect to the internet, preventing hackers from accessing your router or computer. On the other hand, constantly changing keys protects you from any security breaches that i might have server where your accounts are hosted.

It is also important to know which sites are legal and clean, so that you know how to avoid the "dirty" sites that act as an online dive.

Use a good antivirus

An antivirus works the same way as our immune system. What this does is that it recognizes errors in the code and periodically checks programs, thus looking for any line of code that is not in its records and it should be eliminated.

There are a large number of companies. Among the most famous you will find Norton, AVG, McAffee, Avast and CCleaner.

Be careful when browsing the Internet

Remember that when you browse the Internet, anyone can access your connection provided he has the necessary knowledge.

While it seems like few people can do this, remember that the world is an extremely large place. Avoid connecting to Wi-Fi networks public or networks you don't know. If you do, you should use a VPN to prevent your online identity from being stolen.

How to remove a virus from my PC

This is a very simple process. The vast majority of the time, your computer will have a pre-downloaded antivirus system that will detect the threat and after requesting your authorization , will delete the infected file.

However, if you want to know more, you can identify the file you downloaded with an ed virus delete it yourself. Likewise, in case your computer does not have an antivirus, we recommend that you download one immediately as this is the only way to fix your PC other than taking it to a technician.

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