Computer Virus Protection Software

Investing in quality computer virus protection software is more than just a safety measure; it is a necessity. Only the most careless PC owner would attempt to operate an unprotected system. The level of harm that can result from a malware attack is staggering. Most PC owners value the files and media that are stored on their system. To neglect to defend these valuable assets would be as foolhardy as leaving a home unlocked. With the wide variety of anti virus protection software that is currently available on the marketplace, consumers will find that there is a program that will meet the needs of any computer user. With each new day comes a new malicious program in search of a system to infect. In addition to viruses, unprotected systems are also vulnerable to various computer worms, phishing attacks, and Trojan horse programs that can greatly damage or even destroy a system. Thankfully, there are many available applications that can not only protect a system, but also help a user restore a PC that has suffered an attack.

As a consumer considers which type of computer virus protection software to choose, an understanding of the problem can be helpful. Computer viruses are programs that are somewhat small in size, yet can pack a wallop when it comes to destroying an unprotected system. These programs have been created to be transmitted from one PC to another and wreak havoc by interfering with how a system operates. Left to their own devices, these applications might even erase an entire hard drive. These malicious programs are masters of disguise. They can impersonate anything from friendly e-mail greetings to funny media files, but they are far from harmless. Some of these viruses are metamorphic and can transform themselves into other things once they have infected a system. Obviously, defending a system from these harmful programs through anti virus protection software is a must. The Bible talks about the protection that can be found in God. "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." (2 Samuel 22:3)

There are many doorways through which these viruses could attempt to enter a computer or network. Some will attach themselves to messages that arrive via an instant message program; some will attempt entry through an innocent looking e-mail. For this reason, it is never a good idea to open an e-mail attachment from an unknown recipient. Other means of travel could include transmission over the internet or from one PC to another in the same network. Additional sources could include CDs, floppy disks, or USB drives. In addition to defense against viruses, anti virus protection software can also shield systems from other attacks such as worms or Trojan horse programs. Two categories of these malicious programs are nonresident and resident viruses. Nonresident applications have two components, the replication module and the finder module. The jobs of these components are somewhat self explanatory. The finder seeks out files that is can infect and the replication module infects it. Resident viruses do not need a finder component, but will replicate whenever a file is executed.

The job of computer virus protection software is to locate and eradicate these malicious programs. While most of the programs are identified as "antivirus" applications, this title has more to do with how the software originated than the functions that these programs currently perform. When these programs were originally created, viruses were the main target. Since then, these applications have been modified to also defend a system against other threats as well such as worms or Trojan horse programs. The jobs that anti virus software typically perform are to scan the files of a system in search of any viruses that are known about. Since new malicious threats are being created everyday, protection software will also look out for any odd behavior that could be going on with a computer program. If signs of an infection are seen, corrective measures will be taken or suggested to the user. These programs require regular updates so that the system is constantly protected from any new threats that have been created.

Installing anti virus protection software is an important step in providing solid system protection. The wise consumer will purchase one of these applications from established companies with good reputations in the industry. Every time that a system is booted up, these protective programs will automatically start as well, checking for viruses whenever a PC opens an executable file. Trojan horse programs masquerade as other applications. Effective computer virus protection software will provide protection from these kinds of threats as well. However, since these imposters are harder to detect than standard the standard virus, computer owners should take precautionary measures such as taking extra care when opening certain files or e-mails. If a system is exhibiting odd behavior, it is not necessarily a result of a viral attack, but should be investigated. Most antivirus programs will remain alert to this suspicious activity and will automatically check it out.

In spite of the presence of anti virus protection software, sometimes a malicious program finds its way into a system. When this happens there are steps that can be taken to restore the system or network and eradicate the problem. Once the source of the attack has been removed, most operating systems have a systems restore function that will reinstate files to a point in the past before the infection. At times, operating systems have to be reinstalled. For this reason, the consumer should always perform regular system back ups.



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