Computer viruses are varied in nature. They have been around for many years and have been created for lots of different purposes, all of them malicious. Depending on the specific malware your computer may have been exposed to, the damage will be different.
One of the most alarming characteristics of a computer virus, and probably the reason for their success over the years, is the fact that malware is capable of reproducing itself and transmitting to other computer systems. Much like a human virus in real life, it is able to spread the infection on its own. In writing the virus, cyber criminals come up with a series of malicious code, which is meant to interrupt the normal functioning of your computer system.
Some computer viruses are programmed to harm your computer by damaging programs, others work by deleting files or reformatting your computer’s hard drive. Some forms of malware simply replicate themselves and flood a network with traffic, making it impossible to perform any internet activity. Even the less harmful computer viruses can significantly disrupt the performance of your system, sapping memory and causing frequent, irritating computer crashes.
If your system has fallen victim to a computer virus then there may be a number of symptoms you might be experiencing:
- Slow computer performance
- Erratic computer behaviour
- Unexplained data loss
- Frequent computer crashes
How do they get into your system in the first place?
- As files hidden in spam emails from cyber criminals or other, infected systems
- By disguising themselves as some more benign software
- Pop-ups on questionable websites
- By using outdated computer virus protection
Whether a virus is just a nuisance, or it has a much darker purpose of blocking your files or stealing your information, they are always best avoided completely. An unprotected computer is like an open door to malware. The best way to protect against malware is to install a quality anti-spam software such as MailCleaner. Our product will keep your computer safe from viruses that might otherwise infiltrate your system via spam email, malicious links or pop up adverts.