| If you've never been the victim of a computer virus, | | | | pace. |
| you may think that all of the uproar over these nasty | | | | To make things worse, quite a few of these computer |
| little programs is making much ado out of nothing. You | | | | users who leave their computers unprotected are |
| may even be thinking that computer security experts | | | | actually taking classes for computer related careers. |
| and anti-virus companies are using scare tactics to sell | | | | They are completely at sea when they have to try to |
| anti-virus software. After all, the bigger the problem, the | | | | repair the damage caused by a virus filled computer. |
| more software people buy. Today, the anti-virus | | | | Perhaps a basic class on computer care and repair is |
| business is worth several billion dollars and it shows no | | | | in order! |
| sign of slowing down. | | | | You are probably wondering how viruses develop |
| So, with all of this money at risk, you are certainly | | | | anyway. Hackers are the people creating these nasty |
| justified in wondering whether computer viruses really | | | | bugs, right? Actually, while some hackers may decide |
| are as big a problem as the industry says they are. | | | | to create computer viruses, most of them spend all of |
| Unfortunately, the answer is that they absolutely are. If | | | | their waking hours attempting to break in to the most |
| you get a virus, you could actually lose your money, | | | | secure and top secret systems they can find. People |
| your identity and your computer's hard drive. With new | | | | who write viruses are people with an ax to grind. They |
| viruses being developed constantly, the problem | | | | want to send a wake up message or show people |
| continues to grow. While many viruses are more | | | | that they are superior to them. Today, many people |
| annoying than destructive, even a "harmless" virus can | | | | are concerned that computer viruses could be used |
| use up valuable resources. The worst viruses can | | | | as a terrorist weapon. |
| spread worldwide in a few days and wreak | | | | If you do get a computer virus, will you lose everything |
| unbelievable havoc. The damage from one infamous | | | | on your hard drive? It actually is rare for this type of |
| virus can mean billions of dollars in lost business | | | | virus to spread very fast or far. Annoying viruses that |
| opportunities and damaged equipment. | | | | stop you from starting your computer or using |
| With all of this bad news, is there any good news for | | | | windows or those that mail spoof emails to your entire |
| computer users? Take this quick risk quiz: | | | | email address book are much more common. The |
| 1. Does your computer have antivirus software | | | | hard drive is usually recoverable when the computer |
| installed on it? | | | | has one of these viruses. |
| If you can say yes, you are much less a risk than | | | | What about your financial and personal information? |
| people that don't have antivirus software. If you say | | | | Are viruses really likely to swipe them from the |
| no, than it is only a matter of time until you find out | | | | computer. Absolutely. This is a common reason that |
| about viruses personally. | | | | viruses are created and spread. |
| 2. Does your computer have a firewall installed on it? | | | | Is there any way to keep your computer virus free? |
| If your response is yes again, you can relax a bit. | | | | While no anti-virus software is foolproof, installing one |
| You're doing all you can do software wise to keep | | | | of these programs can provide some protection. While |
| your computer safe from a deadly virus. If you say no | | | | there are anti-virus software programs that provide |
| again, you are leaving your computer wide open for an | | | | better protection, any of them will help somewhat. |
| attack. | | | | Even free anti-virus programs are actually able to |
| Despite all of the media attention paid to antivirus | | | | ward off at least some viruses. |
| software, people still have the "It can't happen to me." | | | | After reading this information on viruses and anti-virus |
| mentality. They laugh off warnings to protect their | | | | software, you have probably resolved to get |
| computers and say that they are working just fine. | | | | protection for your computer right away. If so, you |
| They think that because they never actually initiate a | | | | won't be sorry. Dealing with viruses after you are |
| file download or send and receive files with friends, | | | | infected is frustrating and time consuming. It is so much |
| they are safe. A few months go by and suddenly they | | | | easier to keep a disaster from happening instead of |
| can't get their computers to boot up forever and then | | | | trying to reconstruct a ton of missing data and worry |
| when they finally do start, they plod along at a snail's | | | | about identity or financial thefts after the fact. |