Information on what computer viruses are, different kinds of viruses, and who is infecting your computer with them.

Whether it’s a pesky annoyance or a harmful experience, a computer virus is sure to grab our attention. There are two sides to a virus; the side that we are becoming increasingly sophisticated to deal with these problems and the side that we as society can be greatly effected by such a problem. Twenty years ago you may have heard virus and thought of a bacterial problem or health concern. However, in today’s time and age we have become increasingly familiar with the phrase computer virus.

If you listen to the news, there are many different forms of electronic infections that are harmful to our computers. There are smaller viruses that can occur and affect your computer. However, it is the properly engineered viruses that make the news such as the Melissa virus of 1999 and the ILOVEYOU virus in 2000. While computer programmers and specialists continue to research and eliminate viruses altogether, there is always the potential of people finding new ways to create computer viruses.

A virus is a small piece of software that connects to other already existing programs on your computer. The problem with computer viruses is that they can and often do reproduce onto other programs. Every time you open that first program the virus attached itself to, the virus opens as well. Every time the virus opens up, it has the potential to spread to other programs. Because of this, the virus will begin to take over your computer.

Another type of computer virus that has become increasingly apparent is e-mail viruses. Just as with other viruses, e-mail viruses spread from computer to computer affecting a vast amount of computers. It moves around e-mail messages and infects your computer as you open your e-mail, which has led to many not opening unidentifiable emails. It usually replicates itself by automatically emailing itself to dozens of people in your address book.

The scary thing with the increasing sophistication and knowledge people are gaining about computers is that people are the ones who create computer viruses. People are the ones who write the code, test it to make sure it spreads properly and then release it. The reason they do it is similar with crimes in the world; they get a cheap thrill out of watching destruction at the expense of others.

The legal system has been getting much harsher in punishing people who create computer viruses to get the point across that this is not ok. There is a lot of harm that can be done from strategically planned viruses, and people’s increasing sophistication with computers makes the future scary. The best thing we can do is hope for the best and be aware of what we open up and download.

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