Viruses

Hacking

Backups

Computer safety...

Viruses

A computer virus is a piece of program code that makes copies of itself by attaching itself to another program. These viruses can cause such damage like destroy or change files and plenty more.

What is a virus?

While viruses are usually malicious like destroying dataor crashing network services, some just send annoying messages or do nothing. Many viruses are made to wait a long time before doing anything, usually destroying data on a certain day, like a holiday. Viruses are usually spread by a computer network, by e-mail, or by removable media, like a floppy disk or memory stick.

Types of viruses

Protection against viruses

Viruses can be avoided by taking sensible precautions such as:•Keeping your operating system up to date•Using up to date anti-virus software•Not opening an untrustworthy email attachment •Not allowing other users to use their own memory stick on your system.•Only downloading files from reputable web sites.•Avoiding software from unreliable sources.

Anti-virus software can inspect computer files and email attachments for viruses and remove or quarantine any which are found.It is good practice to backup your data regularly. If a virus does damage your data, you can restore the damaged files from backup.

The main type of viruses are Trojan software-This that appears to do something useful such as a computer game (which is why you loaded it on to your computer in the first place) but quietly, behind the scenes it is doing something with ill-intent; Worms-These are a bit like a computer virus but they spread on their own through computer networks. Their biggest problem is the sheer amount of computer time and bandwidth they soak up, so making the network slow to a crawl; and Adware / SpywareThese are programs designed to keep track of which adverts you click on and then they send specific adverts to your browser. Fairly harmless but annoying and hard to get rid of.

Antivirus software

There is a small disadvantage to using anti-virus software because installing new software can become very awkward as the anti-virus software 'thinks' that there is a virus at large as the new software installs itself into various directories and system areas.  This is why installation routines often advise that anti-virus software be switched off during installation.

 

What is hacking...

Hacking means to illegally access other people's computer systems in order to destroy, disrupt or carry out something illegal.

Hacking is usually carried out mostly if someone outside a company wants to try to break into the computer system and many more.

Even if the hacker only does it as a challenge or for a bit of fun, it is still illegal.

How can hackers be STOPPED!

• Keep anti-virus software• Activate a firewall• Keep track of system events • Make sure your operating system is up

to date• Install patches when they arrive

Back up is to make copies of the original data in case it gets lost or damaged.

Backups can be made onto removable media.

This is useful if there were to be a fire/flood, if the PC were to be stolen or in the event of a hard disk failure. The original data files could then be restored. Backups can also be made to a different drive or file on the hard disk.

This is showing how to save the document

This is showing that my document is being backed up on the N drive...