Computer Viruses - The Basics

Computer Viruses - The Basics 
By Robert Hanania, Mon Jan 2nd 

In its simplest terms a virus is a disruptive computer codeperiod! A computer virus almost always repeats itself andspreads by attaching itself to other files. Viruses can be madeto host a number of harmful things on any computer fromdisrupting files to crashing networks. It can even be layingdormant, without you knowing it's there and then attack whenleast expect it, like right in the middle of downloading a largefile or typing a long report.

It can even be made to open at a certain date, sitting like atimebomb until it's time arrives. As you can see it can beannoying at the very least. I do not want go into all thedifferent types of viruses here because there are so many andmore are being made everyday in some dank basement by the DarkLord. However, since so many viruses came from unknowinglyopening e-mails I would like to mention some basics here:

Never open e-mail attachments unless you know for sure who it'sfrom and that it's safe. Some mail programs will even ask if youtrust the attachment and if you're sure this you want to do.Your computer software can also scan attachments for viruses.The danger is that when the attachment is opened the virus canattach itself to your hard drive and damage files. Not onlythat, it can search your saved e-mail addresses and send itselfout to your friends, business partners and whoever is on thelist, masking the message to look like a legitimate one fromyou. It will probably have an attachment too and when openedwill infect other computers.

Many people like to download music, video, games or otherprograms from different sites. If it is a site you dealt withbefore and trust it may be safe ok, but if you're not sure youcan always run a virus scan on the download before installation.(You will need to check the anti-virus program that came withyour system on procedures). This security measure is necessarybecause some downloads may contain virtues, spyware or adware -these last two can collect personal information, note yourbrowsing habits and spam your e-mail with unwanted ads. Somesoftware sites will offer a readme file that shows technicalinformation on the download (if you like tech talk) as well ascontact info. The better sites that offer downloads will testand scan all there software programs before going online withit. As a last resort you can do an internet search for reviewson that particular company to see if others got burned.

This may sound scary to some but the fact is in this worldanyone who owns a computer will have to look over thereshoulders for hidden attacks when working with online. That saidthere are some things should do to prevent viruses fromattacking your computer:

* Download the latest virus definition lists ( files that tellyour computer what to scan for) that's used for your anti-virusprogram.

* Check to see if your internet service provider has tools tostop viruses before they can reach your mailbox.

* Always back-up your computer on CD-R disks or other media incase you loose some or all your data.

* You can scan software for viruses before installing it. (Seesystem manual for procedure) 

* Set your security settings at the highest level.

* Check your web browser and e-mail settings.

Doing these things at least every week will help keep yourcomputer up to date on Virus protection and running safely.

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Anti virus software

Anti virus software
By: Bureau24

Though viruses are mushrooming at a faster rate than vaccines still there are very good and reasonable anti-virus software to assist its users to keep their computer system virus free. At present, the following are the most popular anti virus software:
Norton anti virus
Dr.soloman
PC clean

The function of anti-virus software is to perform one or more of the following functions:

Prevention :
Anti-virus programs may be preventive or restorative. Preventive techniques include stopping attempts at direct access such as formatting and deleting, or even write protecting the hard disk while testing familiar software. The restorative process is achieved by maintaining a copy of CMOS information, boot sector information, the file allocation table, etc., in a safe area like a floppy.

Detection :
The detectors warm the user of the presence of a virus after it is loaded into the machine or disk. These programs maintain a file with a list of checksum values of the executable files. The identifiers rely on the fact that when the replicates, it makes a copy of itself.

Vaccination :
The vaccinators inject some code into the executable files. When the vaccinated file is run, the injected code performs an integrity check on the program being executed and warns if any changes have been made.

Inoculation :
The inoculators insert the virus signature into infected areas or files at appropriate location. When the virus performs their self detection, they find their signature and believe that the memory/disk/file is already infected and so do not infect.

Damage control :
The better equipped anti-viral programs are also capable of controlling damages caused due to virus attack. 

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Article Source: http://www.ApprovedArticles.com

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Panda Antivirus 2008 3.00.00

Install it and forget about viruses and spyware!
Detects and deletes all types of viruses. Keeps your PC free from spyware.

The new Panda Antivirus 2008 is the easiest-to-use protection for your computer. Just install it and forget about all viruses, spyware and online fraud. And you hardly have to lift a finger, so you can chat, share photos and videos with friends, read your favorite blogs or simply surf the Web, with complete peace of mind. And it's so light, you won't even notice it.
Includes: Antivirus, AntiSpyware, AntiPhishing, AntiRootkit, TotalScan Pro

• New! In-Depth online scanning
Deep scanning of your PC with TotalScan Pro..
The exclusive technologies in Panda TotalScan Pro allow periodic in-depth scanning to detect and delete the most sophisticated threats that can slip past traditional protection. Always protected against the most sophisticated threats!

• Latest generation antivirus
Automatically detects and eliminates all types of viruses.
If content is missing from your hard disk, if you have problems starting your computer, or if some of your files are unusable, you can be sure you've been hit by a computer virus. You can be infected just by surfing the Net, downloading a file, or opening an email attachment. There are also the dangers of worms and Trojans which now use new stealth techniques to evade detection.
With Panda Antivirus 2008 you can use the Internet and download or share files in the knowledge that you are fully protected against all types of viruses, worms and Trojans. Forget about infections!

• Powerful AntiSpyware
Keeps your PC free from spyware.
Computer slowdowns, annoying and aggressive pop-up ads, sudden changes to your system settings... these are just some of the effects that spyware can have on your PC. The real danger however is that these threats can steal information about your Internet activity and then use it without your knowledge.
Panda Antivirus 2008 detects and completely removes spyware and other annoying programs automatically. Safeguard your privacy!

• AntiPhishing
Protects against online fraud.
Certain emails are designed to trick you into revealing your confidential bank details. They may appear to have been sent from your bank, but they have not. Falling into the trap can be costly: it could give the phishers complete access to your accounts. Panda Antivirus 2008 can identify these fraudulent emails, and prevent you from revealing your bank details, account numbers or other confidential information.
Panda Antivirus 2008 will keep you safe from these dangerous scams. Bank and shop online with complete peace of mind!

• Protection against dangerous websites
Prevents access to websites harboring threats.
Many infections occur simply when you visit a certain web page. Panda Antivirus 2008 recognizes dangerous web pages and prevents you from opening them and becoming infected. This feature is particularly effective against certain types of spyware and online fraud. Surf the Internet safely!

• AntiRootkit
Detects threats that try to hide on your PC.
Rootkits can be used to hide threats and prevent them from being detected by security solutions. These threats can then act with impunity on your system. With Panda Antivirus 2008 you won't have any problem, as its reinforced protection system can detect threats that use this stealth technique. Protect yourself from hidden threats!

Homepage - http://www.pandasecurity.com

Size: 66.0 MB

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ClamWin Free Antivirus 0.92

ClamWin is a Free Antivirus for Microsoft Windows 98/Me/2000/XP/2003. It provides a graphical user interface to the Clam AntiVirus engine. It features a command line interface for scanning files, updating the virus definitions, and a daemon for faster scanning needed on high performance systems.
ClamWin Free Antivirus For Windows is a completely free and open source anti-virus software package. It uses the GNU General Public License by the Free Software Foundation. 

ClamWin Free Antivirus features: 
- High detection rates for viruses and spyware;
- Scanning Scheduler; 
- Automatic downloads of Virus Database updates. ClamAV team regularly updates Virus Databases to include a new virus/variant immediately after it appears; 
- Standalone Virus Scanner; 
- Right-Click Menu Integration to Microsoft Windows Explorer; 
- Addin to Microsoft Outlook to remove virus-infected attachments automatically. Built-in support for mbox, Maildir and raw mail files 
- Built-in support for RAR (2.0), Zip, Gzip, Bzip2, Tar, MS OLE2, MS Cabinet files, MS CHM (Compressed HTML), MS SZDD 
- Built-in support for Portable Executable files compressed with UPX, FSG, and Petite 

Changes in Version 0.92 - January 19, 2008:
* updated ClamAV engine to 0.92. New ClamAV engine significantly improves database loading time and scanning speed 
* resolved MS Vista compatibility issues 
* added Windows theme support 
* fixed temp file deletion problem 
* added --detect-pua option (turned off by default)

Homepage - http://www.clamwin.com/content/view/71/63/

Size: 17.8 MB

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Little-known Anti-virus Software Catches Viruses That Big Software Companies Miss.

Little-known Anti-virus Software Catches Viruses That Big Software Companies Miss. 
With computer virus infections at an all-time high, thousands of computer resellers, IT consultants, and computer users are abandoning their expensive, big-brand anti-virus software for the less expensive AVG anti-virus software developed by Grisoft and distributed by Walling Data Systems(http://www.avg-antivirus.net). Using a multi-level virus scan approach that is far more comprehensive than most anti-virus software, Grisoft's AVG product is able to shield users from viruses, Trojans and worms that most other anti-virus programs miss."When we replace a well-known anti-virus product with the AVG product on any computer or network, we almost always find threats that the competing software product was not detecting," says Luke Walling, President of Walling Data Systems and Authorized US distributor of the product. "Unfortunately, not many people know about AVG simply because the company reinvests all of its money into developing a better product instead of dumping the money into expensive marketing," he continued. "The up side is that the product is a lot less expensive to the end user because they aren't paying for the fancy box or advertising."However, the word is getting out. In the last 6 months, the number of computer resellers who are abandoning their current anti-virus software for the AVG product has increased by a very high percentage, and over 10 million licenses are in use by home users and businesses around the world."I lost trust in the other anti-virus software I was using because it was not filtering viruses properly," says Mike Henson, President of A+ Computer Repair a reseller in Chesapeake, VA. 

"With AVG, you get bullet-proof virus protection without the problems or the high cost; it's really a no-brainer," he added.Another attractive feature of the product is that, once installed, it will not drain your computer system's resources. This makes AVG suitable for use with a wider variety of computers that would otherwise not be able to handle the system load of some of the more popular anti-virus software."Once you install the Grisoft AVG product, it works the way it's supposed to and we don't have to go back and deal with problems or baby sit the product to make sure it is still working," says Jay Tipton, President, Technology Specialists a reseller based in Fort Wayne, IN. "Also, the support provided after the sale is top-notch," he continued, "I like the fact that we can reach a real, live, English-speaking person at Walling Data Systems who actually knows how the product works and will not B.S. you into thinking that it is your fault when something goes wrong."Grisoft was founded in 1991 in the Czech Republic by software developer Jan Gritzbach. Grisoft, Incorporated, the U.S. 

branch, was founded 1998 in Delaware and now has sales and support operations in New Jersey. In August of 2004, Walling Data Systems launched the first full-service web site offering instant product delivery on all Grisoft AVG products, live help, remote support, and a US-based toll free support hotline to all customers. To view this new web site and download a free 30-day trial, visit http://www.avg-antivirus.net. For more information email e-mail protected from spam bots, or call toll free in the US or Canada 1-866-833-5727.. 

We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is a specific topic related to anti-virus that you would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our avg anti-virus free website.

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Your Anti-virus Is Not The Answer To Your Total Internet Security.

Your Anti-virus Is Not The Answer To Your Total Internet Security. 
MicroWorld focuses on new generation e-security threats with its new product eScan Web and Mail Filter for WindowsDo you think your anti-virus software is all that you require for protecting your system from cyber criminals? Is it all that you need to prevent your machine from becoming a spam producing mill? Is it all that protects your children from obscene material, prevents your employees from degrading their performance by using Internet unproductively, protecting your personal/private documents from any modifications or unauthorized access, killing your precious bandwidth through pop up Ads and securing you against Spywares? The answer to these questions is a big NO. The anti-virus software simply protects your system against viruses, worms and trojans but the cyber criminals have become so intelligent today that they know how to circumvent through the security policies and attack the systems with other types of tools. If you have an anti-virus software in place and think that you are secured from all potential Internet threats, you need to rethink.....as your children may fall into pornographic loop, your bank details may be stolen and the productivity of your organization may go down the drain. So, what is the solution???The recently launched product from MicroWorld, eScan Web and Mail Filter for Windows, protects your system on a real time basis against threats like:Unsecured content, Spam, Pornography,Unproductive use of Internet, Spyware, Pop Up Advertisements etc.The product has been developed to run efficiently with any antivirus software you might already have on your system. "This product has been developed keeping into consideration the security requirement of our users who already have an anti-virus in place but are vulnerable to other new potential e-threats", said Mr. 

Govind Rammurthy, CEO and MD, MicroWorld. "People already having an anti-virus installed on their systems if want to secure themselves from other potential e-threats also usually do not find software which can gel with their existing anti-virus and provide them a good security. Considering this requirement of our users we have launched this new product in the market which we expect would get phenomenal response", he futher says.The more details about the new product from MicroWorld can be obtained by writing to sales@mwti.net or support@mwti.net.. 

We strive to provide only quality articles, so if there is a specific topic related to anti-virus that you would like us to cover, please contact us at any time.

And again, thank you to those contributing daily to our f-secure anti-virus website.

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Anti-virus Vendor

Anti-virus Vendor “wows” Customers With Free Installation And Support Services 
In a world where most technology vendors are cutting back on free support and setting up their help desk support overseas to save money, Grisoft AVG Anti-Virus distributor Walling Data Systems is breaking the mold by not only keeping their support staff in-house in the United States, but also adding free remote setup of AVG's Centralized Administration tool (AVG Admin) as well as a free comprehensive deployment analysis for all of their customers purchasing the AVG Anti-Virus Network Edition software product from http://www.avg-antivirus.net"Lack of service after the sale is the number one complaint customers have about technology companies in general," says Luke Walling, President of Walling Data Systems, "they (technology companies) work very hard to get your money; but after you buy, you are typically on your own."Although Walling Data was already providing free remote installation and support for their Corporate, Educational, and Government AVG Anti-Virus customers when they had a need for it, it was decided to make it official starting December 14th, 2004 after staff members talked with hundreds of customers and prospective customers about the concept."I don't think offering free support and good service after the sale is an amazing concept, but it surprises me how many companies don't get it right," says Luke, "either they assign you to a low level tech support person that is reading from a script, or they charge you for the support. This is very frustrating to a customer who just bought a product expecting it to work, only to find out that they have to hand over even more money to make that a reality."To date, Walling Data has done over 150 free Network Edition management tool installations and customers just love it!"Most companies are great at following up with you when they want to make the sale, but after you buy, you never hear from them again. That wasn't the case with AVG Distributor, 
Walling Data Systems, Not only were they easy to reach and very responsive, they helped us complete the entire install and followed up to make sure it was running properly. I would definitely recommend AVG Anti-Virus to any other IT Manager looking for virus protection at a fraction of the cost of many competing solutions, with better service to match." Owen Stevens IT Manager, Overton's Inc. About GrisoftFounded in 1991 in the Czech Republic, Grisoft Inc. 

has been focused on developing software solutions that provide computers with detection of and protection from viruses. By specializing in anti-virus solutions, Grisoft's primary goal is to deliver to the market the most comprehensive and proactive protection available. Distributed globally through resellers, distributors, and through the Internet, the AVG Anti-Virus product line has evolved substantially from single-function utilities to support all major operating systems and platforms, and is now used by more than 20 million users around the world.About Walling Data SystemsFounded in 1994 in North Carolina, Walling Data Systems is a high technology company specialized in offering complete technology solutions and services to their national client base with a strong focus on customer service.With the opening of their full service IT Service Center in 1998, Walling became a full service solution provider offering local depot, regional onsite, and global remote service support options to their customers.Walling Data Systems was named an Authorized AVG Anti-Virus Distributor in the United States, also serving Canada, in 2004.To learn more about AVG Anti-Virus and to download a free 30-day trial, visit: http://www.avg-antivirus.net, or call Walling Data Systems toll free at 866-833-5727US Based Solution Providers and Technology Resellers interested in applying to become Authorized AVG Anti-Virus resellers, may visit http://www.avg4resellers.com or call toll free 866-833-5727.

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Symantec Client Security Corporate Edition 3.1.5.5000

Symantec Client Security 3.1 helps keep client systems safe by providing comprehensive and proactive protection against malware with vulnerability-based detection. Integrated graphical reporting and simplified management of multiple, integrated security technologies allow organizations to maintain control of client systems, minimize productivity disruptions, and enhance client security. 
Simplified management of integrated antivirus, firewall, and intrusion prevention technologies through the familiar Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition management interface allows organizations to maintain control of client systems, minimize productivity disruptions, and enhance client security. 
Real-time protection reduces the risk of spyware and adware reaching the system, while automatic removal enables easy disposal of security risks. Side-effect repair automatically cleans up registry entries, files, and browser settings after hard-to-find spyware infections. Administrators have the flexibility to set the organization's security spyware and adware policies on an application-by-application basis. 

Centralized configuration, policy management, threshold alerting, and logging capabilities ease the administrative burden and offer a comprehensive view of the enterprise's client security posture. A single update for antivirus, firewall, and intrusion prevention from a single vendor allows organizations to respond faster to complex security outbreaks. At the same time, multiple security technologies interacting with one another ensure a coordinated response to maximize containment and recovery.

Homepage - http://enterprisesecurity.symantec.com/products/products.cfm?ProductID=154

Size: 37.7 MB

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PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition 4.0.0.20

Powerful free protection against malicious virus infections! PC Tools AntiVirus provides world-leading protection against viruses, worms and Trojans with rapid updates and OnGuard™ technology.
With PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition you are protected against the most nefarious cyber-threats attempting to gain access to your PC and personal information. Going online without protection against the latest fast-spreading virus and worms, such as Netsky, Mytob and MyDoom, can result in infections within minutes.

Once infected, the virus will usually attempt to spread itself to your friends, family and associates by accessing your email contacts and networked PCs. The infection may also allow hackers to access files on your PC, use it to launch attacks against other computers and websites or to send mass SPAM email.

That's why PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition provides world-leading protection, with rapid database updates, OnGuard™ real-time protection and comprehensive system scanning to ensure your system remains safe and virus free. PC Tools products are trusted and used by millions of people everyday to protect their home and business computers against online threats.

PC Tools AntiVirus Free Edition feature highlights:
• Protects your PC as you are working, surfing and playing
• Detects, quarantines, disinfects and destroys Viruses, Trojans and Worms
• OnGuard™ protects your computer against threats in real-time
• Automatically checks for frequent updates against the latest threats

Designed for Windows® Vista™, XP and 2000

Homepage - http://www.pctools.com/free-antivirus/

Size: 13.7 MB

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Kaspersky Anti-Virus 8 Beta

Kaspersky Internet Security 8.0 – is a new line of Kaspersky Labs products, which is designed for the multi-tiered protection of personal computers. This product is based on in-house protection components, which are based on variety of technologies for maximum levels of user protection regardless of technical competencies. This product utilizes several technologies, which were jointly developed by Kaspersky Labs and other companies; part of them is implemented via online-services.

During product preparation several competitor offerings were considered and analyzed - firewalls, security suites systems, which position themselves as proactive in defence and HIPS systems. Combination of in-hosue innovative developments and results from analysis gathered through the industry allowed to jump onto a new level of protection for personal users, whereby offering even more hardened and less annoying computer protection from all types of electronic threats – malicious programs of different types, hacker attacks, spam mailings, program-root kits, phishing emails, advertisement popup windows etc.

Homepage - http://www.kaspersky.com

Size: 25.1 MB

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Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium 7.00.02.35 for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista

AntiVir PersonalProducts GmbH and its sister company H+BEDV Datentechnik GmbH merge together under the new company name Avira GmbH. With this new identity we create a central contact point for our worldwide private and business customers. The product range will keep the name of AntiVir as an international brand - the only thing that changes is our company name and the pictures in the AntiVir versions. 
AntiVir PersonalEdition offers effective protection against computer viruses for the individual and private use on a single PC-workstation. It detects and removes viruses and includes an Internet-Update Wizard for easy updating. The built in resident Virus Guard serves to monitor file movements automatically, for example when downloading files from the Internet. Heuristic scanning protects Protection against previously unknown macro viruses.
Even though viruses have now grown very numerous, one thing hasn't changed: our commitment to provide you with all-round protection. The reliability of AntiVir is demonstrated in numerous comparison test and references featured in independent trade journals. 

The Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Premium supplements the comprehensive protection of the well-known and popular free Avira AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic by useful features in security and comfort: 

- AntiSpyware: protection against dangerous spy programs 
- AntiAdware: bothersome adware programs 
- Email scanner: extra protection against email viruses (POP3) 
- Premium updates: updating at lightning speed through an exclusive update server 
- Configurable search runs: examination of selected folders and files 
- Cooperation with the Auerbach Foundation 

Premium functions:
- Safe protection against viruses, worms, Trojans and dialers 
- Low system load 
- Automatic updates 
- Easy operation 
- Integrated detection of ad/spyware 
- Extra protection through email scanner (POP3) 
- Exclusive download server for faster updates 
- User-defined update intervals 
- Scan function for selected directories 

Homepage - http://www.free-av.com

Size: 17.3 MB

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