What is a Computer Virus

Computer viruses are malicious programs that install themselves on your computer without your knowledge and then cause your computer to malfunction.
These malfunctions can be everything from annoying pop ups caused by programs called spyware right on down to complete system failures and the complete destruction of your hard drive.
Typically, viruses are accidentally installed on your computer through the use of other applications such as opening an email attachment or installing a program that has the virus hidden in it's code.
Once installed on your computer, a virus then sets out to execute what ever it was designed to do. Some viruses cause a specific program not to work, others change all your personal settings and others will erase data from our computer.
Most viruses are the work of individuals who for what ever reason feel the need to create a program that causes damage to other peoples property - not unlike a vandal in your neighbourhood. Some find it a challenge to see how much damage they can cause or how fast their virus creation can spread - almost like a symbol of achievement.
Viruses have a variety of different names. These include trojan, worms, and spyware. In most cases, these viruses work in one of three ways. They might attach themselves to files and corrupt the data, or they might install themselves on your computer to prevent it from running properly, or they hijack your computer to send out emails or steal personal information. With this in mind, viruses can range from simply annoying to down right illegal.
There is no one single solution to protect yourself from virus infection. Anti Viral programs such as the free Antivir is a good step in the right direction. This program is superior to Norton Anti Virus and is a freeware program - meaning you never need to pay anything for it. You can get the Antivir Program by Clicking here.
Secondly, you need a registry scan program that should be run on your computer at every boot up. We recommend
a program such as Registry Patrol which is free to install and operate and it keeps a close eye on your registry to prevent and repair any types of problems it finds. You can go to the Registry Patrol site by clicking here.
Finally, you should have a quality Spyware program installed such as Spyshield which detects and removes any spyware that has been installed secretly on your computer.