Viruses Are Nearly Inescapable

By Author: Gregg Housh
Total Articles: 18
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Whether it's Conflickr or a new fake anti-virus program, it kind of feels like malicious software and viruses are inescapable for any PC hooked up to the Net. It's estimated the amount spent annually on security software in the U.S. has risen to over $800 million in recent years, but PCs are still getting infected daily. Why aren't we virus free yet?

The answer lies in the nature of malicious programming. Computer viruses don't spring up out of nowhere, they are designed by programmers who either have nothing better to do and think it will be fascinating, or professionals who make money by abusing your personal computer. Whenever anti-virus companies are informed of a new virus, they create a new definition for their anti-virus software to help isolate and remove that virus if it is downloaded onto your personal computer. Once the new definition is widespread enough that a serious percentage of PCs are safe against that virus, a newer one is made by the nefarious programmers and the cycle starts again. Just about two thousand new viruses were identified every day in 2007, and the issue isn't going away soon. ...
... This is why you want to allow your anti-virus software to download new virus definitions so often.

Frustrated hackers tired of the quick turnover of "regular" viruses have graduated to attacking your personal computer's defences directly: your anti-virus software. Many new viruses include programming that either hides itself specifically from several popular anti-virus programs, forestalls them from downloading new virus definitions, or shuts them down completely. Even when these new viruses are identified quickly, many PCs will already be infected and the software on the machines will be unable to remove the virus. In cases where one virus shuts down the anti-virus software entirely, other viruses will usually infect the machine and can render it inoperable in a matter of hours if not minutes. Still other nasty viruses employ tricks to avoid removal strategies, and will re-infect a machine after an anti-virus program or a user tries to delete them.

The battle against computer viruses is non stop, but you can do something to help shield your system. Installing a good anti-virus program and allowing it to update frequently is just step 1, but beware of fake anti-virus programs you can find online (many of these are viruses themselves). The fake anti-virus programs normally go by the names : Antivirus 2010 Pro, Windows Pro Police, System Guard 2009, Personal Antivirus, Antispyware XP 2009, and plenty more. You can see a pattern in how they name themselves. Never download anything from an individual or website you do not trust, never open a suspicious email (you do not always have to open the attachments to get infected), and do not go to websites with a poor reputation. If you take these steps and your computer still gets infected, have a trained professional remove the virus for you instead of attempting to remove it yourself. Modern viruses can be terribly difficult to isolate and remove, and it's very simple to break your system accidentally while trying to remove one.
Gregg Housh holds the position of Technician Manager at Geek Choice. At Geek Choice we solve computer problems such as: Slow computer, Virus Removal, Spyware Removal, Computer startup problems, Printer not printing, Not connecting to the Internet, Scanner not working, or the "blue screen of death".