Computer viruses are
diminutive software programs that can replicate and infect a
computer without consent from the user. It may cause damage of the
hard disk contents and interfere with computer operation. Since,
most of personal computers are now linked to the internet; viruses
can easily take advantage of network services like in World Wide
Web, E-Mail and even Instant Messaging. Through file sharing systems
it can simply spread because normally a computer virus is concealed
inside another program. For instance, when the host program is
running, it is also runs at the same time. It will start to infect
other programs on the host computer. After the infection stage,
there's a destructive stage. Meaning, the computer virus waits for a
certain number of times that it has replicated itself before
distributing its payload. Payloads commands to destruct the core
operating system.
What will you do if your system was hacked?
Awareness on ethical hacking is essential to know the
hacking tips
they are sharing and different types of computer virus for any
prevention or immediate solutions, just in case that we encounter
this problem.
Tips to Learn Computer Hacking
These days, an ethical hacker is
known as expert and intelligent programmer. They are above from any
average programmer. Most of them suggested that we need to follow
these steps:
First, be curious and aware for the details of
your system directories, file systems and inside of the computer.
Next, read a lot of books or go through the tutorials concerning on
your system files. Third, don't be afraid. Remember, for you to have
much idea on the computer hardware and the operating system you must
apply to work the idea that you’ve learned. Of course before doing
it, don’t forget to have a backup ready. Then, you need to be
familiar with popular operating systems and you should invest for
tools like compilers, snoopers, APIs, desk editors etc. After that,
pick some projects and work consistently because real time
experience is better than reading. Lastly, try to start with the
web. There is no source greater than the Internet..
Types of Viruses
Nowadays, there are numerous types of computer viruses on the
internet. Fortunately, many can be prevented from spreading with the
right tools and software protection ready.
Boot viruses - executed when your computer first boots up. Once
loaded, the virus can then infect any other disk used by the
computer and can also infect a PC’s hard disk.
Program viruses – this is a kind of virus that is active in the
memory of your computer. It makes copies of itself and infects files
on disk. It usually attacks executable program files.
Multipartite viruses – is a mixture of Boot and Program viruses.
If the infected program files were open they will infect the boot
record. And the next time you will open your computer multipartite
virus will attack all the program files on disk.
Stealth viruses - self installing kind of virus, users are
not aware that this virus is already attacking their files because
it cannot be detected easily.
Polymorphic viruses – these types of viruses are difficult
to detect since it can encrypt code in different ways so it may
appear different in each infection.
Macro Viruses – can be consider a newbie in line of
viruses, it usually infects the macros in a document or template.
That is why when a template is open, the virus activates. The
infection can be carried to other computers when the infected
documents were loaded.
Active X – these viruses resides on the Active X file in
your computer. It is usually carried by the files we down load from
the internet.
Worms – are similar to virus and created to make a self
replication that will lead to negative effects on the system.
Nonresident viruses – it has an ability to replicate your
files, not knowing it is already a virus since the file name is both
the same.
Resident viruses – most like the same with the nonresident
viruses because of the replication ability. They are sometimes
divided into two categories as “fast and slow infectors”. Fast
Infectors infects as many files as possible while slow infectors are
made to avoid detection by slowing down a computer performance.
File Infector Viruses – a kind of virus that hides within
the code of all kinds of computer program as long as executable. And
it will create an .EXE or .COM file extension.
Script Viruses - starting to be a common kind of virus and a
very deadly one. It activates in programming languages like JAVA and
some small programs.
E-Mail Viruses – obviously these are types of viruses that
are attached in e-mail messages. These are also separate programs.
Most common is the Trojan horse.
Chat and Instant Messaging Viruses – these are the so
called instant viruses since it can proliferate thru chatting or
inside public chat rooms.
Directory Virus – if your file had been infected it will
impossible for you to locate the originals because directory virus
changes the path that indicates the location of your files.
Polymorphic Virus – it has the ability to encrypt or
encode in a different way every time they infect a system.
Anti-viruses had a hard time finding them. They can also make great
number of copies of themselves.
Direct Action Viruses – likes others are also replicates
and do the action when executed to its root directory in the hard
disk.
Overwrite Viruses – you can only eliminate this virus by
deleting the original contaminated file but loosing it completely
because the main job of these viruses is to delete the information
in your files.
Companion Viruses – it accompanies other viruses in your
system to carry over their activities, these viruses if there are no
other virus to accompany can wait in the memory of a computer.
FAT Virus – this virus damages part of your disk like hard
disk and storage memories like flash disk. They prevent you to
access the said storage until you lose all your files.
Trojans or Trojan Horses – it doesn’t look like harmful
but a total opposite. This virus is tough to delete. It also has an
ability to self-replicate like worms and other viruses.
Logic Bombs – this is likely different that others, it
doesn’t replicate and not even a program. They are at first
camouflaged of other programs and waiting to destroy computer data
once certain conditions are met. It is undetected unless already
launched.
Operating System Reinstallation
The most effective way to eliminate
viruses on your computer system is by reinstalling. It means that
you have to reformat computer Operating System and partition. You
also have to install other software’s that you needed including
media files. You can also put back all your old files such as Word,
Excel, PowerPoint and others provided that all files are free from
viruses. And last but not least, do not forget to install effective
and efficient anti-virus program on your computer.
