| In addition to the common methods of spreading | | | | the infected machines against the primary target. |
| through email attachments, boot infections and | | | | As you can see, your computer can be hijacked |
| program infectors, there are other ways by | | | | without your knowledge and then used in a major |
| which viruses spread to your computer. These | | | | attack against an unsuspecting company. |
| include: | | | | However with up-to-date virus/firewall protection, |
| Infection by Disk(Floppy, Zip, CD's, Tapes, etc.) | | | | your computer will be immune to such hijacking. |
| Floppy disks, though not as commonly used as in | | | | Other ways by which virus spreads |
| the past, are still a very common way viruses | | | | Other sources of viruses have been found to be |
| being spread from machine to machine. Anyone | | | | the result of software downloads available over |
| with an infected machine, using a floppy disk to | | | | the Internet. Software patches, drivers, |
| copy and save files, can also copy and transfer | | | | demonstration software, from reputable |
| the virus. Any use of that same removable disk, | | | | companies, generally carries little risk. However, |
| by any user, at any time in the future, will most | | | | the Internet is also filled with "unofficial" software, |
| likely contaminate, or re-contaminate the any | | | | pirated programs, and low-budget software from |
| computer it is used with. The only way to | | | | questionable sources that may be intentionally or |
| properly clean an infected floppy disk is to | | | | unintentionally infected with viruses. Files |
| perform a low-level format. The normal | | | | downloaded directly from the Internet (either |
| Windows(tm) "format disk" is often not enough. | | | | through file-sharing programs or direct download |
| With CD's, all the above holds true with the | | | | from websites), are among the fastest growing |
| exception that an infected CD can never be | | | | sources of computer virus infections. |
| cleaned. To get rid of an infected CD, you need | | | | Email, with its nearly universal availability and ease |
| to put it in the trash and never use it again. | | | | of use; chat rooms and messenger systems, not |
| Infection from Networks | | | | only make communication simple and quick, also |
| Peer-to-Peer network, Local Area Networks | | | | make the transmission and re-transmission of |
| (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless | | | | infection simple and alarmingly fast. Creators of |
| Networks, and the Internet, are all computer | | | | newer viruses, and internet worms specifically |
| networks. They all have the same basic purpose; | | | | target these systems because they are widely |
| to share software, and information resources | | | | used, and are often built right into the operating |
| between two or more computers. As with | | | | system and used with default settings making |
| anything else that is shared between computers, | | | | them much easier to attack and exploit. |
| networks let users share files, and wherever files | | | | As a point of reference, Internet Explorer, and |
| are shared, viruses can be shared and spread. | | | | Outlook/Outlook express email clients are two of |
| Most network virus/worm/Trojan activity is like | | | | the applications most targeted by Internet viruses |
| what we described earlier, although more and | | | | and worms. Why? Because they are installed on |
| more examples of automatic mass mailing | | | | more computers around the world than any other |
| attacks, system resource attacks are being | | | | software, and they are installed 99% of the time |
| found. | | | | with default settings (which means virus |
| Recently many attacks are designed to specifically | | | | programmers have an easy blueprint to follow). |
| target major corporate interests (Microsoft, eBay, | | | | If you use an email system or instant message |
| Amazon, major Banks etc.) in an attempt to | | | | system that is installed automatically with your |
| disrupt their online services. Very generally these | | | | computer's operating system you need to install |
| are called DOS (denial of service) attacks. The | | | | and use current antivirus software. You also need |
| way they most commonly work is by secretly | | | | to learn how to turn off certain default settings |
| infecting thousands of local user computers (like | | | | that can leave your system open to very easy |
| the one you are using right now), and then at a | | | | attack. |
| specific time, launching a combined attack from all | | | | |