How to recognize a virus?

You should have a good anti virus program that you keep updated regularly. If you don’t your computer is bound to contract a virus of some sort from the Internet. Even if you do keep healthy computer habits, it’s sometimes possible for a virus to attack your computer.

Even though you might suspect that your computer has a virus, how can you really tell for sure? Most viruses will often cause erratic behavior. Smiley faces could pop up out of the blue, the screen might turn black, the computer could crash, or it may constantly reboot. The trigger that activates the virus can be just about anything.

For example, the virus can be activated the minute it has installed. Or, it might start its dirty work the next time you turn your computer on. In some instances, a virus can reside in your computer in an inactive state, waiting for a certain event or date to happen. From the moment the virus invaded your computer to the time that it made itself known to you, you could have accidentally spread it to others. A very bad sign that you have a virus is when friends call you or email you to let you know you sent them a virus infested email.

When you suspect your computer has a virus, you should scan your system with a software program. If you currently own an antivirus program and your computer will operate, you can start your program and initiate a scan of your entire computer. Chances are however; if you contracted a virus, the virus definitions that your program is using are out of date. The first thing to do is to visit the web site of your manufacturer and update your antivirus software by downloading the latest definitions.

If the virus scanner you are using finds a virus, it will give you the name of the virus or viruses that you have contracted. If your computer is indeed contaminated, you will need to take immediate action. Depending on the severity of the virus, the health of your computer as well as security of your data could be at risk.

Look up the virus information at one of the antivirus manufacture’s websites, such as www.symantec.com. Sometimes the manufacturers will have a software program that you can download to remove the virus. Instructions for removal may be offered as well.

The severity of a virus will vary; some are easy to get rid of and repair; while others can be very nasty and require a lot of time and effort to repair. If you’re lucky you just might be able to remove the virus yourself. If you have contracted an invasive virus however, don’t hesitate to leave the work to a local computer specialist.

Always remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure you have a good antivirus program installed on your computer and that you update it regularly. You will also want to ensure that your Internet browser and operating system have had all the necessary patches. Prevention is the name of the game, and you do need to become best friends with an antivirus program.