Computer Internet Security and Computer Viruses
The extraordinary development in Internet usage during the previous decade has given birth a new breed of nasty uninvited guests to your computer and/or network. Computer viruses are unfortunately alive and well, and just waiting for a chance to contaminate your computer. This makes the necessity for decent quality computer internet security more essential than ever. This piece of writing will consider some of the more widespread signs that will warn you to the fact that your computer may be residence to some unwanted guests.
If you are are a computer user of any kind, recreational surfer, gamer, or internet marketer, the threat of a computer virus assault should not be utterly new to you. Computer internet security is huge business these days as evidenced by the many internet security products or internet security systems currently obtainable to help defend your computer and/or network. With anywhere from 100-500 new types of computer viruses being revealed on a daily basis, this is a very money-making niche to be in at this point.
Ideally lots of readers of this commentary will own some brand of computer internet security installed as most commercially sold computers do come with some type of antivirus security pre-install and operating systems such as Window XP and Vista do have at least basic onboard programs running that will detect many general viruses, provided you perform your updates on a recurring basis.
Sorry to say these “free” antivirus whether part of your computer O/S, pre-loaded on your computer or accessible as a download can only provide you a fundamental level of protection. Unquestionably this not the best internet security to be had, but obviously much superior than no virus protection at all.
Any sort of an antivirus computer internet security system will give you with some kind of virus infection notification. Most often some kind of a scanning log that informs the computer user what was discovered and steps taken to deal with the virus hazard. Unfortunately you obtain what you pay for with respect to antivirus programs, so the quality of the computer internet security software you have installed will determine just how many viruses kinds will be uncovered, (providing you do regular updates), and efficiently dealt with. Unluckily it is very probable that you can have viruses on your computer that your current antivirus program, or lack of one, may not even see as being present.
Regardless of the huge numbers of viruses lurking on the Web or hidden in contaminated software, there are some common characteristics that will give us effective clues that we have an unwanted visitor living in our computer. Some clues are
1. Baffling keyboard glitches such as keys unexpectedly not working or not doing what they generally should.
2. Programs starting and running much slower than usual.
3. Vanished data files or files that inexplicably will no longer allow access.
4. Computer hard drive filling up for no understandable purpose.
5. Display monitor showing strange colors or letters moving towards screen base.
6. Appearance on screen of machine gibberish, stupid messages, threats, etc. for no apparent reason.
7. E-mails sent out from your computer to persons in your address book, without your knowledge.
Unfortunately the above list of glitches may possibly not be all that is happening to your computer and/or network. Various viruses now work in the background doing their dirty business without you knowing, such as the infamous “key logger” viruses, that can embezzle your passwords and credit data, then send it on to their inventor without your knowledge!
Naturally once you become alert that there is a strong prospect that your computer and/or network is under attack, STOP using your computer system until you can deal with the hazard successfully. This should indicate purchasing and loading a high-quality computer internet security software or upgrading what you have installed now, to something newer and improved. If you are a network user, advise your network administrator right away of the virus assault to help prevent the virus infection from spreading to other users.
Remember the greatest computer internet security begins with YOU, the computer owner-operator, and how agreeable you are to carry out careful computing operations and to spend your money on the best internet security software you can come up with the money for.
