Anti-Virus Software

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Introduction

Anti-Virus Software is a type of application designed to protect a computer against being infected by viruses, worms and other malicious code. This software program will search through hard drive and floppy disks to identify and remove any known or potential viruses.

The market for anti-virus software has expanded because of Internet growth and the increasing use of the Internet by businesses concerned about protecting their computer assets. Nearly all anti-virus programs will monitor traffic while user surf the Web, scan incoming email and file attachments and periodically check all local files for the existence of any known malicious code. Most anti-virus programs include an auto-update feature that enables the program to download profiles of new viruses so that it can check for the new viruses as soon as they are discovered.

About Computer Virus

Computer Viruses are computer program with the characteristic feature of being able to generate copies of itself, and thereby spreading. These viruses often perform malicious acts, such as deleting files, accessing personal data, or using user computer to attack other computers. These self-replicating program include:

Viruses
Small programs that attach themselves to other programs or documents and replicate with the potential to cause damage.

Worms
Virus that replicates itself by resending itself as an e-mail attachment or as part of a network message. They are specifically engineered to make extensive use of email to spread themselves rapidly.

Trojans
Programs that install themselves or run surreptitiously on a victim's machine. Trojans appear to be harmless but have a damaging or otherwise malicious intent.

Downloader
A type of viruses that once activated will begin downloading unwanted software from the Internet. Usually, the unwanted software contains additional viruses or some type of adware and spyware.

Adware
Designed to create pop-up ads on computer. This is done by collecting personal information from one computer and transmitting it to another computer through the Internet.

Spyware
Similar to adware, however it collects information such as passwords and bank account numbers with the intention to steal identity, hijack computer, or deplete bank accounts.

Zombies
Programs that install themselves on computers and remain dormant until some external event triggers them into action. It can corrupt, truncate, or steal information and sending it to a predefined email account or opening up remote control access portals to user machines.

How to Protect Your Computer

Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a downloaded file, or be present on a diskette or CD. The best protection against a virus is to know the origin of each program or file you load into your computer or open from your e-mail program. Since this is difficult, you may buy anti-virus software that can screen e-mail attachments and also check all of your files periodically and remove any viruses that are found. From time to time, you may get an e-mail message warning of a new virus. Unless the warning is from a source you recognize, chances are good that the warning is a virus hoax.

Types of Antivirus Programs
There are two major types of anti-virus programs,

Resident anti-virus programs which reside on the user's computer
Resident virus checkers provide full-time protection to user's computer, however updates from the manufacturer are needed to keep abreast of new viruses. Resident virus checkers should always be on and checking user's computer for viruses and other threats. Examples of resident virus checkers include: PC-cillin, Norton Antivirus, and Mcafee.

Free online web-based anti-virus programs
User can get web-based free virus checkers online from an antivirus manufacturer's Web site. Online virus checkers are free and always up-to-date, but will not detect viruses unless user are online and at the manufacturer's Web site. Online virus checkers can also be used in conjunction with resident virus checkers when updates to resident programs have not been obtained. Examples of free online virus checkers include: HouseCall, and Symantec Security Check