Step 1
Computer crime is now considered to be a
serious threat since personal computers or computer
networks can be found in almost every private home and
business organization. Hackers are computer
criminals who succeed in entering computer systems
without permission, retrieving or eliminating
information through special programs called
viruses.
A virus is a program which may interfere
with routine computer functions; it can reproduce
itself and contaminate other programs like its
biological equals.
There are different
types of viruses:
- a "Worm" clones
itself uncontrollably corrupting as many computer
systems as it can;
- a "Trojan Horse" is a
program which behaves like the horse in the
Homer’s Odyssey. That means it enters your PC
hiding a virus inside and making it difficult
for your system to detect its presence.
Step 2
Hackers may trigger a virus at a fixed date or when
the reproduced copies of the virus have reached a certain
number: it may just show a troublesome message
on the screen or it may eliminate data on the disc
or in the memory.
Viruses spread through
infected floppy discs as they are used on more than
one computer. They may even enter a system over phone lines.The
Internet is the main vehicle for the trasmission of
viruses which may be found in e-mail attachments or
program files.
Here are some safety measures
that you can use against viruses:
- install antivirus programs on your PC and
run them at least once a month
- use original software only
- do not download
programs from computerized bulletin boards if you
are not sure about their source
- do not open
e-mail messages whose sender is unknown
or with attachments containing files with .exe as their
extension.
(c)Copyright 2003
