Computer virus

Viruses may seem to carry less effect now but the truth is that they still infect cause damage to devices that is why I decided to explain what a virus is what the different types of viruses that exit. Read till the end to find out about this.

WHAT IS A COMPUTER VIRUS

A computer virus is malicious code that replicates by copying itself to other programs and documents hence changing how a computer works. The virus requires someone to knowingly or unknowingly spread the infection without the knowledge or permission of a user.

 A virus can be spread by opening an email attachment, clicking on an executable file, visiting an infected website or viewing an infected website advertisement. It can also be spread through infected removable storage devices, such USB drives. Once a virus has infected the host, it can infect other system software or resources modify or disable core functions or applications, as well as copy, delete or encrypt data. Some viruses begin replicating as soon as they infect the host, while other viruses will lie dormant until a specific trigger causes malicious code to be executed by the device or system.

TYPES OF VIRUSES

File infectors

 Some file infector viruses attach themselves to program files, usually selected [.com] or [.exe] files. Others can attach themselves to files ending with [.sys], [.ovl], [.prg], and [.mnu] files. They are executed when someone opens the containing the virus is opened by the user.

Macro Viruses

These viruses specifically target macro language commands in applications like Microsoft Word and other programs.

Polymorphic viruses

A polymorphic virus is a type of malware that has the ability to change or mutate its underlying code without changing its basic functions or features.

Resident viruses

 This type of virus embeds itself in the memory of a system. The original virus program isn't needed to infect new files or applications; even if the original virus is deleted, the version stored in memory can be activated when the operating system loads a specific application or function.

Rootkit viruses

 A rootkit virus is a type of malware that installs an unauthorized rootkit on an infected system, giving attackers full control of the system with the ability to fundamentally modify or disable functions and programs.

System or boot-record infectors

 These viruses infect executable code found in certain system areas on a disk. System; rebooting the system will trigger the boot disk virus. An infected storage device connected to a computer can modify or even replace the existing boot code on the infected system so that when it is booted next, the virus may boot with it.