Virus

WHAT IS A COMPUTER VIRUS?

A computer virus is a computer program that is self executed by inserting copies of the same in another program or document and that requires a minimum capacity of space in the hard disk. Its main characteristic is mainly based on its exponential capacity to self propagate. The virus may be programmed to be destructive, or simply to be disturbing. When a virus penetrates inside the computer, most likely its correct performance will be altered.

WHY IS A VIRUS BORN?

The viruses are created by the computer programmers, who generally create the viruses for hobby. Also many times the virus is created with the purpose of being used as a means of propaganda is a motive of pride, or full competitiveness between the programmers, this is why the viruses developed are increasingly destructive and difficult to control.

INFECTION PROCESS

The virus may be anywhere. In a diskette given to us, in an email, in the file downloaded from Internet, etc. The infection process varies depending on the type of virus acquired, due to which the process is generally detailed.

At the time of executing the program or infected file, the instructions are read and processed by the computer, due to which the virus can be installed in the memory, or remain inactive for an specific period of time. The virus residing in our computer will have as a purpose to quickly corrupt the system’s files, beginning with those files that are in use at that time and which are the first ones being executed when booting the computer. The virus remains in memory while the computer remains turned on; this is why one of the first things that the virus does when reaching the memory is corrupt the system’s boot files to make sure that this will be loaded again the next time the computer is started.

The viruses also can affect the "Boot sector". In that case the virus is programmed to be copied in the first sector of the hard disk that the computer reads when booted. It might happen in some cases that the virus overwrites the disk’s original sector. The viruses residing in the boot sector make sure to be the first ones to enter the system, but they have the weakness of the virus not being able to be loaded in memory and have no control if the user boots the computer with a "clean" disk.

This type of virus can alter the table where the addresses to the existing files in the hard disk are, this is why they say that their capacity to infect the totality of these files is real, altering all the information contained in a disk. In case of performing an analysis of the disk looking for errors big amounts of links to the files that the virus has modified will be detected.

VIRUS CLASSIFICATION

•  Macros Virus /Source Code. They are attached to the users’ Source programs and, to the macros used by Word processors.

•  Mutant Virus. They are the ones that when infecting they perform modifications to their code, to avoid being detected or eliminated (NATAS or SATÁN, Miguel Angel, for example).

•  Worms. They are programs that are loaded in the memory and are positioned in a particular address, then they are copied somewhere else and are erased from the place they occupied, and so on. This makes the programs or the information they find on their way to memory to be erased, which causes operation problems or loss of data. For this reason it is said that they are crawl throughout the entire system.

•  Trojan Horses. They are those that are introduced to the system under an appearance completely different from the one of their final target; that is, that they present themselves as lost information or "trash", without making any sense. But after some time, and awaiting the indication programmed, "they wake up" and begin executing themselves and showing their true intentions.

•  Time Bombs. They are the programs hidden in the system’s memory or in the disks, or in the executable program files with type COM or EXE, awaiting a particular date or hour to "explode". Some of these viruses are not destructive and only exhibit messages in the screen when the time of the "explosion" arrives.

HOW TO AVOID BEING CORRUPTED BY A VIRUS?

Once explained how a virus works and knowing the effects that this might have on our computer following the tips to avoid being corrupted is advisable.

•  Have an antivirus installed in your computer (Preferably of known quality).

•  Constantly download the available updates for your antivirus maximum once a week, since everyday new viruses are born.

•  If a file cannot be repaired by your antivirus immediately proceed to delete the infected file or else place it in quarantine until the vaccine to remove the virus from the file is supplied by the antivirus company.

•  Avoid downloading Internet files of questionable origin.

•  When "surfing" in Internet avoid accessing unsafe pages

WHAT IS AN ANTIVIRUS?

They are programs specially made to detect and delete viruses infecting our computers. In some cases the antivirus can only detect, but not delete the virus, due to which we will be recommended to delete the infected file or to place it in quarantine (waiting until its vaccine is available to do the correction in the file).

From time to time (one or a few months), new antivirus versions appear, prepared to detect the viruses of recent appearance, due to which we must not rely on an out of sync dephased antivirus.

Many antivirus can be used for free at least during a trial period (shareware, or freely distributed programs).

ANTIVIRUS LINKS

RACSA presents you a few free antivirus links that are accessed through the Web navigator. We warn that the online antivirus work only at the time of having your computer’s files checked, due to which said antivirus programs do not protect your computer permanently. Most of these services download a subprogram (ActiveX or Java applet), due to which the first time it is accessed most likely it will take a few minutes to start. It is important to know that the checkup time varies according to your connection’s speed, global traffic in the network at that time and amount of files to be checked up.

RACSA is not responsible for any potential result obtained while applying the solutions offered by these private services.

 

 

 

MicroWorld Anti Virus (MWAV) is a free function that allows detecting virus, spyware, adware and any other type of malware on your computer. MWAV does not require installation since it is an executable file that you can have on your computer or record it on a CD for its portability. Also, MWAV can be executed independently from the antivirus you have installed on your computer.

 

Free AVG is the most popular solution available without any cost for home users and it provides a very high detection capacity that million of users around the world rely on to protect their computers.

 Easy to use, it uses few resources of the system.

1. Functions of automatic updates.
2. Protection in real time like when opening files and running programs.

 

CURRENT THREATS

NONE AT THE TIME