How Viruses Can Damage Your Computer

Computers often make our lives much easier than they are already. They free up some of our time, allowing us to perform work tasks, shopping, and research faster. This makes computers an essential tool for our everyday lives.

Unreliable Computers

The problem is that computers aren't very reliable. Because computers are unreliable, it can be problematic that we rely on them so much. If you own a computer then it's more of a responsibility than an asset. You need to devote some of your time to maintain your computer.

Over time computers can naturally start to slow down because of all the clutter they have collected. As a computer user you will also have viruses to contend with. You will need to be aware of viruses and how you can protect yourself from them.

Computer Viruses

A computer virus is simply a type of program which causes your computer to act in an undesirable way. Not all of these viruses are that dangerous but they are all a nuisance. Viruses infect certain files and when these are opened the virus will spread throughout your computer.

The infected files then cause the virus to spread when they are shared with other people. On the internet there is a lot of file sharing and that's how viruses can affect huge numbers of people very quickly. You have almost certainly sent documents and photos over the internet to your friends and family. If you had a virus then these people could also contract it. Some of the biggest viruses have been able to infect millions of computers within a matter of days.

Virus Damage

There are many different types of viruses and all of these behave in slightly different ways. They will all affect your computer differently. Viruses commonly cause your computer to slow down and can also result in the loss of important files.

Some viruses can also compromise the security of your computer. These allow hackers to view your personal information which could leave you open to identity theft.

Removing Viruses

Whenever you notice viruses affecting your computer then it is important to get rid of it as quickly as possible. Removing it can sometimes be quite difficult and that's why you should use an antivirus scanner. A virus scanner will also offer real time protection in the form of a resident shield.

This will mean that your computer is fully protected from the threat of viruses. A firewall should also be used to prevent hackers gaining access to your computer using Trojan horses or software vulnerabilities.

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In 2003, more than 10 million Americans fell victim to identity theft.

Identity theft costs business and individuals $53 billion dollars annually

In 2003, Americans spent 300 million hours resolving issues related to identity theft.

70% of all identity theft cases are perpetrated by a co-worker or employee of an affiliated business.