So, How many out there have been hit with a virus? How many out there have been hit with a virus even though you had the most up and coming anti-virus installed on your system? Every wonder why this happens even though you paid good money for protection?
First lets start with viruses themselves. Better yet, lets call them all MALWARE since spyware, adware and trojans all can infect and mess up your computer. Broke down simply, it is a computer program designed to destroy information, gather information, become a nuisance…or just to be malicious and destroy your hard drive. They (who are they) say that there are over 3500 new viruses or malware springing up every day. Their only intent is to cause some sort of harm.
The usual ways that these malware programs come into your machine is primarally by YOU!!! Not to scare you too much but here are some ways that this happens:
Email Attachments-DO NOT OPEN attachments unless you know the person or source. Be very sure you don’t get fooled by FAKES (SPOOF MAIL) either. Pay attention to how things are spelled and laid out. Close is not close enough
SPOOF WEBSITES- They almost look real but they are NOT. www.ebay.com is a well known website….www.1ebay.com is NOT.
DOWNLOADING- yes, i have been know to download items that even I should be wary of. Remember if you download it…you are permitting whatever it is to come into your system…weather music or movies or free whatever…if you don’t trust it, don’t do it! and if you do it….don’t trust it….lol.
There are a bunch more ways to get malware into your system but just wanted to get you to start thinking and ask me questions. Let me answer the question that I started to ask a bit ago.
WHY? I have anti-virus and I should be protected. I spent a fortune and I still get viruses…….WHY?
First, there is NOTHING out there that can guarantee you a 100% that you will be protected. Yes, some anti-viruses are better than others and yes free doesn’t always mean bad….but…imagine with me for a moment….
I am a smart, lonely, pre-teen/teenager and am tired of playing video games at home. I can put together a computer in my sleep and my bedroom is already networked with multiple servers and computers that I put together with my buddies. We all played every game, already know a ton about networking. What I need is mental stimulation and a little fun trouble…I know, I will manipulate some computer codes…lets see what this does. Wait, lets download a spammer and mail it to everyone we know (or maybe know and don’t like)…oh and let’s attach a worm so that it attaches to the computer’s address book and more people can be harmed.
How many smart kids you think are out there? Plus, that is just one scenario I am laying out.
Computer viruses are being made in droves EVERY DAY….and the makers of most anti-virus try to maintain that…but it is impossible. One may come out today and infect today and then may be recognized by the anti-virus program tomorrow…but it still infected someone.
Remember, there are over 26 million recognized viruses out there….and a lot more to be made and a lot more to destroy.
Again, I write to ask you to write me and ask questions. We can all learn together!
Til next time,
Tara
