THE DEFINITION OF A VIRUS
The term "virus" is actually a broad label that is applied to a number of
categories of malicious software. An actual "computer virus" in the
strictest sense of the term is defined as a program that can make a copy
of itself and infect a user's computer without that user's knowledge or
consent.
The word "virus" is also applied to malware that doesn't quite fall into this
category, like spybots, adware, worms, and so on. These programs are
not technically "viruses," but using the term “virus” as shorthand for all
malware gets the point across quickly.
Although they may be able to infect your computer without your
knowledge, many spybots and adware bots are not actually capable of
self-replication, and thus, are not technically viruses.
A Trojan may contain a virus, but a Trojan is actually something that you
download onto your computer with your own consent. It is, as the name
suggests, a file that promises to be one thing, but is in fact another, such
as an application that displays pop-up ads on your computer every time
you start an Internet browser, or even spybots, capable of stealing vital
information to be sent to remote users.
A worm is a program that will download itself to your computer without
your consent. It's interesting to note that worms are not inherently
necessarily malevolent.
There was a software company in Japan that was working on "benevolent
worms." These were worm programs that would find routes around your
computer's security and patch them up. While these programmers were
working with the best of intentions, the project was a failure simply
because these benevolent worms were nonetheless eating up valuable
bandwidth, which is the primary reason that worms are such a nasty thing
to deal with in the first place.
Spyware is used, as the name suggests, to literally spy on users. While
you are using your computer, a remote user can actually observe from,
perhaps, thousands of miles away, writing down your email passwords
and credit card numbers as you work. Other spybots may not show your
work in progress to other users, but may record certain details and send
them to a hacker at a later date.
Adware and Spamware are exactly what you think they are. They find
websites that you visit frequently, they mark your email address and your
Internet proxy address, and they flood you with tons of spam and pop-
ups.
It's worth knowing the definitions of all of these different types of viruses
simply so you'll know what you're looking for when shopping for anti-virus
programs. Most of us are happy to simply keep calling them all "viruses."
but a program that boasts of its capability to search for and destroy
viruses may actually not be able to do the same for adware, spambots,
spyware, worms, trojans, and so on.
In other words, either make sure that your security program can check for
all of the above or use a combination of various programs to make certain
that you are fully protected.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COMPUTER VIRUS
The very first computer virus was a viral worm known as THE CREEPER.
This bizarre virus was created in 1971 as an experiment by Bob Thomas,
a programmer with BBN Technologies Research and Development.
Thomas simply wanted to explore the possibilities of a self-replicatingprogram, and hence, the first virus was born.
The Creeper would infect DEC PDP-10 computers running on the TENEX
operating system and display the message, "I'M THE CREEPER, CATCH ME
IF YOU CAN."
The program was made as simply an experiment, but when these
computers were plugged into ARPANET, the predecessor to the modern
Internet, THE CREEPER found its way onto a number of remote computers
outside of the lab.
The virus spread faster than Thomas had ever intended or hoped for, and
some time later, a program known as The Reaper was released. The
Reaper was the very first anti-virus program ever designed, created
specifically to clear computers of THE CREEPER virus.
It is unknown who wrote The Reaper, but there are some theories that it
was Bob Thomas, the same programmer who wrote THE CREEPER. Some
suspect that Thomas perhaps released the virus on purpose, knowing he
could sell the anti-virus, but it is more likely that he simply wanted to
reverse any damage he had done through his research and development
experiment with BBN.
The first virus to actually go "into the wild," as in “outside” of that early
network of computer labs, was the Elk Cloner virus. The Elk Cloner virus
was written by a high school student, Richard Skrenta, in 1981.
The Elk Cloner virus was literally written as a practical joke. It would
make its way onto Apple DOS 3.3 systems via floppy disk and display a
short poem, beginning with the line "Elk Cloner: The Program with a
Personality."
If you used a floppy disk infected with the virus, then every floppy disk on
which you copied a file would then become infected with the virus, and as
such, the virus would then spread to anyone you would loan the disk to,
and so on and so on.
Skrenta had no idea how far the virus would go when he first wrote it onto
a computer game disk, assuming it would maybe surprise a few of his
friends, get a laugh out of them, and that would be the end of it.
However, 1981 was an era where the home computer was first starting to
make its humble debut, and by so many degrees of separation, the Elk
Cloner virus slowly made its way onto hundreds or thousands of
computers.
Today, Skrenta has actually grown from his origins as a computer
prankster to become a very successful programmer and game designer in
his own right, having developed one of the earliest online multiplayer
games throughout the early nineties, Olympia, so while Skrenta may be
blamed for having created the first home computer virus, he can also be
thanked for having created a precursor to modern online gaming.
WHAT YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN COMPUTER
SECURITY SOFTWARE
Ideally, you should try to get your hands on a full security package, as
opposed to just an anti-virus program, an e-mail spam filter, and so on
and so on that are all separate programs. There are quite a few of these
full security package programs available. McAfee Security Center comes
highly recommended, as it is a full package covering anti-virus, spam
filtering, pop-up blocking, spyware, adware and malware filtering, worm
and trojan filtering, and so on.
However, a full package like McAfee does cost somewhere in the area of
forty to sixty dollars, depending on the retailer. A full package like this is
the only security you'll ever need for your computer, but, that said, if
you're strapped for cash, then you're strapped for cash, and you need to
make sure you're protected right now, not "when you get around to doing
something about it."
If your computer is unprotected, then stop reading this right here and go
download a free virus protection program NOW.
The free virus protection programs are not the best protection you can
get, but they will work as a temporary band-aid until you can find some
full security software that you can be happy with.
Whatever you settle on, the number one, first and foremost, most
important aspect of the software is that it absolutely has to be up to date.
You can't simply unpack the anti-virus software that came with your PC
three years ago and install it. Rather, you need to make sure that
whatever software you're using receives regular updates.
The best in this category will update about once a day. Some actually
update more than once every day.
The fact is that hundreds of new viruses enter the world every day. If your
anti-virus software can't keep up with these new viruses, then it's not
really worth it.
PUBLIC COMPUTER SECURITY
These wireless Internet hotspots are certainly a welcome new
development. There’s really nothing like getting some work done while
enjoying a cup of coffee at your favorite café.
Simply put, wireless Internet has made life easier. Using a Wi-Fi enabled
modem, for one, cuts down on all of those obnoxious wires you have to
drag around your house and allows you to sit down with your laptop on
the couch in perfect comfort and to do whatever you like.
Being able to look up directions on MapQuest or Google Earth while in the
passenger seat of the car is a great bonus too and has certainly helped
more than a few lost husbands get out of stopping to ask for directions.
STAY UP TO DATE
The sad fact is that much of what you’ve read above may be somewhat
out of date by the time you read this. The viruses are getting smarter,
and so is the anti-virus software. There will always be some new
development in computer viruses and how to combat them, so just make
sure to stay up to date and know from what you’re protecting yourself.
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