What viruses may do to a computer

What viruses may do to a computer

Below are different issues you may experience when you are infected with a virus. Keep in mind that you also may be experiencing any of the below issues by another computer related issue and not a virus.

* Deleted files.
* Various messages in files or on programs.
* Changes volume label.
* Marks clusters as bad in the FAT.
* Randomly overwrites sectors on the hard disk.
* Replaces the MBR with own code.
* Create more than one partition.
* Attempts to access the hard disk drive, which can result in error messages such as: Invalid drive specification.
* Causes cross-linked files.
* Causes a "sector not found" error.
* Cause the system to run slow.
* Logical partitions created, partitions decrease in size.
* A directory may be displayed as garbage.
* Directory order may be modified so files, such as COM files, will start at the beginning of the directory.
* Cause Hardware problems such as keyboard keys not working, printer issues, modem issues etc.
* Disable ports such as LPT or COM ports.
* Caused keyboard keys to be remapped.
* Alter the system time / date.
* Cause system to hang or freeze randomly.
* Cause activity on HDD or FDD randomly.
* Increase file size.
* Increase or decrease memory size.
* Randomly change file or memory size.
* Extended boot times.
* Increase disk access times.
* Cause computer to make strange noises, make music, clicking noises or beeps.
* Display pictures randomly.
* Different and/or undocumented types of error messages.

Detecting viruses

The recommended method of detecting and cleaning the computer from any computer viruses or other malware is an antivirus protection program. A listing of antivirus protection programs and what they help protect can be found on here later

Alternatively, a user can look at various aspects of the computer and detect possible signs indicating a virus is on the computer. While this method can be used to determine some viruses, it cannot clean or determine the exact virus you may or may not have and is not recommended.

Virus myths

Below are come comments we've come across that are common misconceptions when it comes to computer viruses and other malware.

"If I download a file onto a disk, I don't have to worry about a viruses." - This is not true, just because you've placed a file on a diskette or moved a file from a diskette to your hard drive does not mean that your computer cannot be infected. Many viruses are memory resident and capable of loading themselves into memory once a diskette is placed in the computer.

"If I buy sealed software I don't have to worry about viruses." or "If I just buy registered software I don't have to worry about viruses." - This is not always true, just because the program may be surrounded in plastic doesn't mean that it cannot be infected with a virus. When a software program is saved onto a diskette or disc if that computer or program is infected the virus will attach itself. Although this issue very rarely occurs it is still a possibility.

"If I don't download anything off of the Internet I don't have to worry about viruses." - This is definitely not true. Although most companies and web sites will scan the files for viruses before they make them available to virus, spyware, Trojan horses, or other "If I just read my e-mail, I will not have to worry about viruses." - Not true; there are viruses out there that are distributed through e-mail; also, files can be attached with e-mail and if executed can infect the computer. Today this is one of the most common ways computer viruses spread around the world.

"If I don't get on the Internet I don't have to worry about viruses." - This, unfortunately, is not the case. Although many viruses are spread over the Internet today it is still possible to contract a computer virus form any diskette or disc you put in the computer.

"You can contract viruses from just looking at web pages." - Not true. However, you can contract a virus if you download and execute a file from that web page. In addition spyware and other scripts can be executed from just viewing a web page. Although these programs are not designed to delete files on your computer they should be considered a privacy violation.