The computer virus it is the nightmare of all PC, tablet or smartphone owners, due to its negative effects which affect not only the machine itself, but also the user’s experience of use. You discover what is a computer virus and how to defend yourself from this annoying common problem.
What is a computer virus
In computer science, when we talk about viruses, we are referring to a program or script specially designed and manufactured to create damage inside a machine, be it a computer, a tablet or a smartphone. The computer virus has practically existed since the computer, the first viruses they date back to the 80s and have constantly evolved to adapt to the rapid changes in the world of technology. With the term “virus” today we identify any type of attack or infection in our devices, but there are different types of malware, including real computer viruses.
The damage caused by a computer virus can be of various types and entities, typically viruses infect a PC to delete files or overwrite them in such a way as to generate the perfect environment for their survival. The computer virus, in fact, draws inspiration from its biological counterpart and is a particular type of malware able to replicate and spread in other devices.
Viruses spread due to an already infected file coming from physical media such as pen drives USB or external hard drivesor much more likely from the web (usually through the email). In a computer network, the virus can spread from a single machine and infect all connected others.
The best way to protect your devices from computer viruses is by installing a good antivirus. These are software specifically created to detect viruses and act accordingly by eliminating them or preventing their negative action. It is also important, on the user side, to pay close attention especially when browsing the web and avoid any kind of suspicious links (generally contained in fake emails).