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Your data is the most important thing on your computer and it is important that you know how to take care of it. The first, and safest, thing to do is back up all your important data to external devices. If you have copies of your personal and important files saved either to a floppy or compact disk or USB stick, you will be prepared for even the worst case scenario. For example, if your entire system is ravaged by a virus requiring you to reformat your hard disk and wipe everything, you will have copies of all your data to reinstall.

A computer virus is a program that is developed to spread from file to file, much like a biological virus, self-replicating and taking over the computer piece by piece. Once a virus has accessed your computer it will multiply and attach itself to more and more files and folders. If files are infected by a virus, they can become corrupted as the virus code multiplies and eventually overpowers the original files.

Even if you don’t have backup copies saved and files become corrupted as a result of a virus, application errors and system crashes, there are ways to recover your data.

If you discover a virus on your computer at an early enough stage, then it can likely be removed by antivirus software. A data recovery program would likely be able to restore your files if the damage is minimal. If a virus or other malware has damaged your files, or if your system has unexpectedly crashed and deleted unsaved files, software programs on the market are available for restoring your lost data such as ParetoLogic Data Recovery.

One way to retrieve your files is to try to restore it from the most recent back up. For example, Microsoft Word makes back up files with a .wbk extension and saves it in the same folder. To open it, rename it with a .doc extension.

Another thing to try is to run System Restore, which recalls system files (not document files) in the form that they were in at an earlier time. While this process can work to recover files, it is important to run your virus scan again as viruses can be re-installed by System Restore even after the rest of the system was cleaned.

If the virus is left undetected for too long, it can do lasting and irreparable damage to your computer. If the virus spreads and a lot of damage is done, you will notice serious problems like frequent error messages, programs quitting unexpectedly and, eventually your computer won’t boot up at all.

If this happens, then sometimes the only way to save your system is to sacrifice your saved data and format your hard disk in order to salvage your hardware. There is a chance that data can be restored even after your hard disk has been formatted, with a good data recovery program or with the assistance of a technical specialist.

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The first possible line of defense for your computer system is a router. Usually used to network computers or share modem access between computers, a router acts as a hardware firewall between the computer and external sources.

One way that hackers gain remote access of computers is by infiltrating IP addresses and finding accessible ports. A router stands between the computer and the external threat making the IP address difficult to read and interfering with port scans. Often the complication of getting past the router is enough to make the hacker look for an easier target.

There are also firewall software programs that act as security guards against anything or anyone that tries to access your computer. Firewalls are often built in to operating systems like Windows or OSX and can be set to the users specifications. The highest level of defense is to let nothing access the system, but that might not be realistic if you use your computer for peer to peer sharing or other functions that involve up and downloading data. Firewall software can be set to allow traffic from known and pre-approved sites as well as to notify the user with a pop-up message and request permission to allow access each time the system is contacted.

A very important step towards protecting your computer and stored data against threats is to install and maintain an up to date antivirus program. Unlike the earliest models that were specifically written to combat viruses, modern programs are adept at identifying, isolating and/or deleting infected or suspicious program code or files.

Antivirus software is an important component of your computer security and should be kept at optimal performance with constant updates. However, even then there are limits to what it can do. Since the program can only detect viruses that are included in its dictionary your computer is always vulnerable to new viruses.

Another way that virus writers keep ahead of antivirus software is by writing code that is partially encrypted and disguised so as to not register with the dictionary. As hackers and virus writers get more sophisticated, so do the antivirus programs that combat them.

A simple but effective way to keep your system secure and clean is to be very careful about downloading files from the Internet or opening files that you receive by email.

Infectious files may look harmless but actually carry dangerous code. For example Trojans are often packaged inside programs claiming to be antivirus software that contaminate the computer and facilitate remote access of your system to the hacker once they are downloaded.

While it may be common knowledge that you shouldn’t open attachments that you receive from unknown email senders, even those that come from your contacts can not be fully trusted. Viruses and other malware programs can hijack email accounts and use the address books associated with them to mass-distribute infected files. If you receive unexpected attachments from your contacts, or suspicious emails, it is safer to check with the sender before opening any potentially dangerous files.

As well as these security features, it is important to use common sense when using your computer and when accessing sites on the Internet. Always use strong passwords that cannot easily be discovered by an intruder. Avoid using important dates or personal information like addresses as passwords because this information may be accessible to someone that has infiltrated your computer.

Lastly, make back-up copies of important data. Irreplaceable media and text files should be saved to CD and stored externally in case of infection and data loss. In this case, at the very least, should your system be attacked and infected you will have copies of your important information and data.

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If your system is infected with a virus or other malicious software you will likely have noticed some of the following symptoms: exceedingly slow response times, pop-up ads even when not connected to the internet, mysterious crashes, error messages, freezes or changes to your preferences on both your operating system and Internet browser like new tool bars that you didn’t install or a new home page.

The first thing you should do is run a virus scan. In addition to viruses or malware, there are other causes of computer problems. If your system is running slow it is possible that you have too many applications running at once or if your system is slow to respond or freezing it is possible that it is running too hot and that you need to ensure that your fans are working. Viruses attack files and folders, not hardware, so your computer components should still operate even with a virus.

If you have done some troubleshooting, tried rebooting your system or restarting your modem to check the Internet connection and are still having problems than it might be a corrupted file. If you recently downloaded a software program and the problem could be a program execution error try uninstalling the program and see if that takes care of your problem.

If you still have problems then its possible you have a virus or other malware infection. If you frequently download files through peer to peer sharing sites like KaZaA and Limewire, click unknown links in emails or IM messages, download software from free sites, share USB sticks or other removable file devices or run questionable or .exe file extensions that you receive by email then you have significantly increased your chances of infection.

Your next step is to check which programs are currently running by launching Task Manager. However, it is an even better idea to run the free ProcessScanner service, available online that is certified by Microsoft since many viruses can get around Task Manager. Checking the programs your system is running and assessing the risks will help determine if there is anything unusual being performed.

The next step is to check the list of programs that your computer is set to launch automatically when it starts up. Many malware programs are designed to hide in this list and boot automatically when your system does. For this process click on the Run command in the Start menu and type msconfig.

In addition to these programs that are included with your computer’s operating system there are also a number of online virus scan software programs and commercial products available on the market. Installing a virus scan on your computer is a good way to secure your system. Antivirus software can detect, isolate and delete infected files, usually before they do too much damage. Even with the latest virus protection it is important to check frequently for updates as hackers and virus writers are producing as many as 200 new viruses each month!

If these steps fail to solve your problem the last resort is to format the hard disk, deleting the entire system and reinstalling the operating system. In this case you will lose your data saved to the hard disk so keeping back up files of important or irreplaceable data is a great idea.

Click here to scan your system for viruses and other potential threats

Like a biological virus, a computer virus infects its host and spreads throughout the body. In this case an infected file accesses a computer and spreads throughout the system to other files and folders.

The term ‘computer virus’ is commonly used to refer to any malicious or destructive programs including worms, Trojans, spyware and adware. While all malicious software does, in a sense, ‘infect’ a computer, a virus is a specific type of software that has specific patterns of behaviour.

Computer viruses are transmitted from system to system through the exchange of infected files or folders. Infected files are downloaded, either from a website or as an email attachment, in the guise of harmless files. Once the file is opened the virus is programmed to self-execute and infect the system. Viruses also spread through the exchange of infected files in external devices like floppy disks, cds and USB ports.

Once a virus is unleashed in a computer it takes over, self-replicating, spreading its code, taking over files and folders, and gradually destroying the system. Computer viruses result in damaged files, inaccessible data or programs, sporadic and unpredictable computer function and eventually inoperable systems.

In addition to spreading throughout the system and contaminating files, some computer viruses have an additional ‘destructive payload’, executed when the user unwittingly issues a preset command.

Some viruses infect computer systems corrupting code and causing a wide range of symptoms including slow response times, failure to open programs, freezing during commands, and eventually failure to boot up at all. Some viruses can damage programs, delete files and even reformat the hard disk.

There are a few reasons why people might write computer viruses. Like vandalism or arson, creating public mayhem through viruses may seem very exciting. Maybe it’s a thrill or an ego boost to design a virus that holds large numbers of people, as well as powerful corporations and government agencies in your control.

Some programmers might perceive writing viruses as a technological challenge in a war against the computer establishment. If people adept at programming are excluded from or at odds with conventional computer software design, or feel threatened by the power of major computer corporations, without a productive outlet this angry or thrill-seeking energy can result in programming viruses. As long as people write viruses corporations like Microsoft have to devote time and money to combating them. Or maybe people write them just to see if they can.

Antivirus software can help you secure your system against potential threats. Scanning your system and checking new files, the software identifies and isolates or deletes infected files. Often operating systems are equipped with built in virus scans that monitor and check files before they are opened. The antivirus software works by comparing the code content of the attached file against a registry of known virus codes so it is important to update your security software frequently. Scans can either be preset to run at periodic interval or be initiated manually as commanded by the user.

Click here to scan your system for viruses and other potential threats

Computer viruses are no fun.  In fact, they can really wreak havoc with our computer systems, causing slow-running or incorrectly functioning computers and even computer crashes.  Here are a few ideas you can use to keep from “catching” one:

Get a good anti-virus program.  Many excellent programs are available today which can help keep your computer safe from viruses. Some even offer basic anti-virus protection free.

Be sure your anti-virus program receives regular updates. This will ensure that all the latest known viruses are covered.

Be sure your internet provider offers online protection. In addition to careless handling of incoming e-mail, surfing the net seriously increases our threat of becoming victims of computer viruses.

Never click a link inside an e-mail-particularly if the e-mail isn’t from someone you know and trust. To see where a link will take you if clicked, lightly pass your cursor over the link and look in the left corner of the status bar at the bottom of your screen. If the URL you see there looks suspicious, it probably leads to an unsafe site.

Never open an e-mail attachment from someone who isn’t 100% credible. Unless you know and trust the person and are absolutely certain the e-mail is from that individual, leave the attachment unopened.

Never download anything from a website you aren’t absolutely sure is trustworthy, and be sure you are really on the site you think you are before initiating the download.  Do this by right-clicking anywhere on the web page and then clicking “Properties.” The window that opens will tell you the real name and URL of the site you’re on.

Taking these precautions can help keep your computer safe from viruses.

Jeanne Dininni

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What’s a unified antivirus engine?

Today’s Internet threats come in all flavors including computer viruses, phishing attacks, spam, spyware, adware, worms, and Trojans. Many of these threats are blending. For example, spam messages may also contain malicious codes or point you to a malicious website.

Because of the evolving nature of Internet threats, many antivirus software developers are moving toward unified antivirus engines. These unified engines blend the various technologies used to combat each type of threat into a single tool. Instead of buying and installing separate antivirus and antispyware applications, you can now buy Internet security software powered by a unified antivirus engine. One application can now handle viruses, spyware, spam, phishing attacks, and more.

The advantages of using a product powered by a unified antivirus engine are numerous. Among the most obvious advantages are that you only have one application to manage, one set of database definitions to download, and less potential for conflict between different security applications. In addition, depending on the product you select, a bundled security solution is often less expensive than buying separate antivirus, anti-spam, antispyware, and other tools.

Less obvious advantages include decreased memory requirements and smaller update sizes compared to multiple update packages. When you have multiple applications that must launch at start up and remain running all the time, your system’s performance suffers because each running application takes up its fair share of resources including memory. By having fewer applications running, your system will have more resources available and perform better.

However, not all unified antivirus solutions are created equal. It’s important to evaluate these security suites carefully just as you would with each individual component. How often is the database containing all of the definitions updated? How extensive is this database? How easy is the software to use? Are the controls customizable? Does the software have the features you need?

I have two favorite products: ParetoLogic AntiVirus Plus and Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security. Because I don’t need two similar applications, I currently use the Trend Micro product. Not because it’s any better, it simply has a few additional features that are currently important to me including a firewall, network controls, wireless controls, and home network protection. If you don’t need these additional features, the ParetoLogic product is an excellent choice - why pay for features you don’t need?

Unified antivirus engines don’t necessarily compromise results for the sake of convenience. Most of the major software developers have blended their existing products into a “super engine” that can handle it all. For example, you’ll get the same antivirus technology and database definitions with a unified antivirus product as if you had purchased the standalone antivirus product. You also get the added protection of spyware and malware protection.

In addition to the ParetoLogic and Trend Micro all-in-one security solutions, other leading contenders using a unified approach include:

• McAfee Internet Security Suite
• Microsoft OneCare
• Norton Internet Security
• Kaspersky Internet Security
• BitDefender Total Security
• Panda Internet Security