Antivirus Software - Common Questions

Q: What is a computer virus?

A: A computer virus is a program, piece of code, or programming script which runs without the user's knowledge and performs destructive or otherwise unwanted actions to a computer such as disabling or over-riding security features and making it vulnerable to other attacks. Computer viruses range from annoying and harmless, to extremely dangerous and destructive. Viruses normally replicate themselves by propagating throughout files. Viruses are normally spread by email, through a computer network, via floppy disks, or via the Internet. For a more detailed explaination of the various types of computer viruses, please see our types of viruses article.

Q: How do I know if my computer is infected wtih a virus?

A: The only way to be certain if your system is infected is to run a virus scan using antivirus software. Some indicators that your computer may have been infected with a virus include:

• runs consistently slower than usual

• frequently stops responding

• crashes and restarts

• applications no longer work properly

• inaccessible disks or disk drives

• you see distorted windows and dialog boxes

• files being deleted for no known reason

• strange error messages

• strange behavior with your email program

Q: How do computer viruses spread?

A: The most common way for computer viruses to spread to other computers is through email. Other methods include file sharing programs, from a website - execution of malicious javascript or vbscript, transferring files from an infected computer to another computer (with a floppy disk, CD-ROM, etc.). Some viruses can even spread through a network connection.