Virus Removal

Most people who have used a computer have heard of viruses, worms and trojans. They come in many forms, some fairly benign some intentionally destructive. In short a virus is a self replicating program that spreads by inserting copies of itself into other executable code or documents. Worms copy themselves from machine to machine over a network. They can replicate through a network at a very rapid rate.

Trojans do not replicate but usually are malicious in nature.

 

Virus symptoms

• Excessive network traffic/slow or no network connection

• The computer is running slower than normal, especially when opening a program

• Data files (such as Word or Excel) may be corrupt, missing or are not in their correct format

• Folders are suddenly missing or encounter errors

• Shortcuts no longer work

• Programs unexpectedly start or quit

• Friends receive email messages from you when you know you didn’t send any messages

• Browser homepage and URL’s are redirected

• Your computer freezes frequently or encounters errors

• You are unable to load the operating system

• You are locked out of your system (FBI MoneyPak virus)

• Your hard drive is accessed too often (the hard drive activity light flashes rapidly and constantly) even when the computer is idle

• Excessive memory usage                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

These are some of the potential symptoms.

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Where does a virus come from?

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Unless your computer is completely isolated from the outside world, computer viruses can be introduced into your computer from any number of sources:

• Via an internet connection:

  • Emails

  • Web browsing

  • Downloading/sharing files

• Unsecure network

• Inserting compromised optical media and USB/external drives

• Programs

• Cracks                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

With today’s modern world of computer interconnectivity, viruses are sometimes unavoidable despite our best efforts.

Is there a doctor in the house?

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