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Computer Viruses
A computer virus is similar in
many ways to the virus which infects human beings. It is actually a program
which can be hidden from the casual user, multiply itself happily without the
user knowing it, and on certain pre-determined conditions (depending upon the
virus) strike the system. The way it strikes can be harmless and humorous, like
flashing a silly message, or destructive, like erasing/mixing up data already
existing.
Like in the medical world, there
are vaccines available. These help detect and destroy the viruses from the
system. However, each vaccine can effectively work on only one type of virus. If
your system has caught another virus, a different vaccine is required.
A virus called © BRAIN' which has
affected PCs in this part of the world has been developed by two Pakistani
brothers, and antidotes/vaccines are available for this virus. In other parts of
the world where networks are common, the havoc viruses have created can be
imagined. It is a misconception that only users of pirated software get affected
by viruses as any user having any links with an infected system can get infected
even while doing a harmless activity like data transfer through floppies.
