Types of viruses. 

What they are and all about them

Viruses run in a few different classes and types of viruses.  There is a Trojan horse virus which can be very destructive and then there are worm type viruses, which can replicate themselves and use your email program to send themselves to everyone on your address list. 

For these types of viruses you need a firewall to stop this from happening.  What a firewall does in this instance is stop the virus from sending it out to the rest of the internet.  Be sure to choose a good firewall and call the company to make sure you have it set up properly. 

Be sure to run a virus scan at least once a month along with your regular protection. 

Now, let’s look at theses types of viruses a little closer.

The first up on our types of viruses list is the nasty Trojan virus.  This one of the most feared viruses on the list.  Why?  Because this is the virus that a hacker can use to access your computer system. 

If you get a Trojan and you are not properly protected and a computer hacker scans the internet, they may just find your system and enter it. 

Here is how this happens.  You get a Trojan on your system, which you then somehow click on and make it operable.

A computer hacker sitting all the way across the world decides they want to scan the internet today and see if they can break into some computer systems. 

What they have is a program that can scan the internet by ip addresses, looking for computers that are vulnerable. 

You see, your computer has an address on the internet.  The internet is a big old road and your computer is a house.  Houses have address and you can read maps to get where you are going. 

You computer on the internet works in the same way.  All the hacker has to do is put in a range of address in their programs to scan the internet.  Once they find an open computer, they can access by using the Trojan virus that is set on the computer. 

Trojan horse types of viruses also known as a back door virus is key for the hacker entering your computer system. 

Once they find they virus on your system they in effect enter through the back door of your computer.  This back door is in the form of a port on your computer. 

A computer has thousands of ports on it all for incoming and out going connections to and from your computer. 

All it takes is one of those ports being open with a Trojan connected to it and bingo the hacker is in business.  This is why it is important to have some kind of protection on your system.

The next in our count down for the types of viruses is the worm virus.  This little bugger does just what it says.  It worms its way through the internet, taking up precious bandwidth.  This is usually spread by email, although it can be spread by other ways. 

If you click on and activate a worm virus in your email, then it could send the virus to the rest of your address book, which means your friends and family. 

The point here is you have to be careful opening email attachments.  Listen, a virus can only be activated once it has been opened or clicked on.  Once you do that you open up your computer to all kinds of destruction. 

Now, if you get an email with an attachment from a friend and you know it was some photo you were waiting for, they you may be safe.  But, if you receive an email from someone you do not know and you open it. 

This is where the problem can start.  So to be point blank, be careful with your email and do not just open anything.

The last up on our countdown for the types of viruses is the macro virus.  This is a virus which is more common with programs like Microsoft word and other types of these programs.  What happens is Microsoft word uses macros to perform functions and tasks for the computer user. 

This makes it easy for the computer user to do things they regularly do.  When a macro virus comes along and you run that virus by using a macro in word let’s say, this is where the virus has its pay day. 

A lot of times you will see word as you if you are sure you want to enable a macro.  Just be careful if you do.

And last for the types of viruses but certainly not least is the virus hoax.  These are usually no big deal.  But the problem can come into play when someone is given a task to do, to get rid of certain files in windows. 

All too often, this is usually a prankster telling someone to get rid of a file in windows that will make their system crash or inoperable.  Here is your warning.  Do not just listen to anyone telling you to delete files from your computer. 

Make sure you know the source of the information.

As you just read viruses come in about 4 forms of classification.  New viruses are being developed all the time.  Some are stronger then ever. 

You need some kind of protection for your computer system, especially if your system has sensitive information. 

Viruses and hackers are real threats on the internet.  Take the time to learn a little about the types of viruses and how to protect yourself.  If you are not infected now it may only just be a matter of time before one does hit your computer system.