We are willing to bet that you have, in some form or another, encountered a virus on your computer system or cell phone. Malware is a very common problem in the IT world, which is why it is essential that you have the right equipment and software to help you protect yourself against these viruses. The best way to know how to protect yourself is to first know what you’re up against so that you can proceed accordingly.

Different types of viruses

You may be asking yourself: why are there so many different types of viruses? What purpose do they serve? Why are they there? Well, viruses were originally created for malicious intent, but now they are created to make money – or just to annoy people, really.

Viruses allow the creators to gather information about a person – their bank details, their email addresses, etc – and steal money from them.

We’re sure you would agree that having viruses on your system is not something you want.

Here are some of the more common types of malware you are likely to have encounter or will encounter:

Browser Hijacker

Let us say, for example, that you were typing in an internet address and it automatically bounced through several different sites. A browser hijacker is responsible for something like this. These hijackers, unfortunately, are commonly attached to alluring toolbars, programs and other free downloads you choose. They often have the word “search” in their names.

File Infector

One of the most common types of computer viruses is a file infector. These viruses are attached to host files – which means that they usually stick to files that are regularly used. Any time you open or run the file, the virus is running. This virus has the capability of taking over the file completely.

Macro Virus

A macro virus is another type of file-based virus. It attaches to files made from programs that support macros. People often unknowingly download them from email attachments. Some examples include Microsoft Excel and Word. A good security program scans these types of files before you download them to detect any threats.

Polymorphic Virus

These viruses are harder to detect, because security programs scan coding to identify viruses, but these specific viruses both encrypt and change their coding. They continually change their operations over time, which may affect the programs you use.

Multipartite Virus

Some types of computer viruses only spread in one way, but multipartite viruses can spread in several ways. Their actions usually depend on the form of operating system you use as well as certain programs on your computer or your use of specific files. It can have multiple actions, so it is one of the most annoying viruses to deal with.

Direct Action Virus

Although it was once a devastating form of virus, this type is not as common as was in the past. It is only active upon execution of the file or program it is attached to. Once the program is not in use, the virus no longer runs its operations. Thankfully, these are easy to detect.

Boot Sector Virus

This type of computer virus was more common when floppy disks were popular for booting a computer. While they are not as common today, this type of virus still exists and causes problems because the program is tied to the boot menu. If your computer is infected with a boot sector virus, it will run its operations when you start it up.

Web Scripting Virus

These viruses come from the programming used for a site’s display. The image placement, videos, links and layout of a site are all constructed with coding. The coding can be altered with the intent of infecting your computer when you click links or watch videos on a malicious site. A site may unknowingly host malicious codes added by a third party, so be careful about visiting any sites. Good security programs have features that detect malicious sites while you browse the Internet.

Memory Resident Virus

This form of computer virus is very destructive. It roots itself into the computer’s memory to carry out operations. This means that it is working whenever you run your operating system. It has varying effects, but it will clear up space on your computer for its own use by corrupting and deleting your files. Selfish little thing, isn’t it?

FAT Virus

The FAT, short for File Allocation Table, is a mechanism employed by Microsoft and used in most Windows operating systems. FAT viruses ruin your file allocation system, which is where information about files and where to find them exists. It even destroys files and the entire directories for them.

How to Armour yourself

To avoid these destructive viruses, you must always have a good security program for optimal computer protection. While the free options may seem far more appealing, they come with minimal protection and require manual updates. Since viruses are ever changing and adapting and are a constant threat, you always face a greater risk using the basic free programs. Keep in mind that even the most trusted sites may still have vulnerabilities – security breaches in the past have resulted in devastating effects for many Internet users.

When it comes to the best computer protection, several programs meet rather precipitous challenges. Our programs scan downloads and sites in advance and they offer malware detection and removal, block outside attempts to access your device and have many additional benefits. The peace of mind we can offer is worth every cent.

Do you want to prevent your systems from being infected with viruses? Or, do you want to remove a virus that is already plaguing your system? If so, we can help you with that. Please, contact our team, to ensure the protection of your systems and your information.

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