Computer Virus 101

COMPUTER VIRUS 101

A screenshot of the FBI Virus, a common ransomware virus.

One of the most prevalent issues we face in the computer service world is the dreaded computer
virus.

So, in the following paragraphs, we will go over where they come from, how to help keep your protected from them, and what to do if your system gets infected by a virus.


1. Where do computer viruses come from? And how did my computer get infected?
Computer viruses aren't like biological viruses, which evolve and develop naturally in the wild. A computer virus is developed by a black-hat software developer (read: bad guy) and is released out into the world wide web. These programmers release these viruses in order to: 1. gain remote access to your computer and computer's files, or; 2. get you to pay the virus-creator via some kind of online payment system (which then gives them access to your credit card information), or; 3. simple bragging rights. Most viruses, like the FBI Virus and the Systems Tools virus are general variants of a money-making scheme, which (in some cases) helps to fund organized crime.

So, these viruses are released "into the wild," using exploits in either the operating system (think Windows) or third-party software (like Java, Flash and other applications). And what happens is that the virus can get attached to the code of a website or into a malicious file attachment from an email, and all of a sudden, it installs itself onto your computer. These virus writers are pretty smart at what they do and have all the tools necessary to infect your system!

2. How can I keep my computer protected from viruses? 
Everyone should have some form of Antivirus protection installed on their computer. We prefer Microsoft Security Essentials, which is a free antivirus program offered from Microsoft. Unfortunately, though, there is no way to stay 100% protected when using a Windows PC. Even Mac computers can get viruses too, despite what many people believe. Here is the basic breakdown of how computer viruses and antivirus programs compete:

Computer viruses come in many different variants, and can do everything from lock your computer down (which is annoying) to stealing your data (which is scary!)

Though it looks legitimate, the AV7 virus hijacks your computer.

- A new virus is released into the wild.

- After the virus is detected, antivirus companies create a patch, which is then downloaded as an update to your antivirus definitions.

- Virus-writer creates a new virus, or modifies the original one, and releases it to the Internet.

As you can see, it's a cycle. If you're one of the unlucky ones who gets the virus before a patch is released, your computer will become infected.

Your antivirus program will keep you protected from all the current viruses they have definitions for, but you also should take steps to make sure your computer is at its best to resist viruses. The best thing to do is to run your updates. Windows updates, as well as updates to third-party software like Java, Flash and Adobe Reader, are released constantly and are usually security updates. So keep those programs updated! You should also manually run a virus scan using your antivirus program. This way you can ensure that your system is safe.

3. What do I do if I get infected?
If your computer gets a virus, the best thing to do is to turn it off immediately. As stated earlier, some of these viruses' intent is to take your information (including passwords to email, facebook, etc.). It's also important to make sure that the virus can't change the registry of the operating system, which could make your computer completely unusable, needing a wipe of the hard drive. So, turn it off and call a professional (in this case, All Star Computer Service) so that we can remove the virus securely without any damage to your personal data/files. Sometimes a virus removal can take up to 14 working hours! But, that's necessary when ensuring that your computer is fixed as well as security holes are plugged against future attack. Though we can't guarantee that you won't be infected again, we can help make your computer more secure by closing some of the backdoor entry points into your system.