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COMPUTER VIRUS WARNING SIGNS
by Laura
Quarantiello
If you're conversant with computer code,
looking at the actual strings of code in a suspect program can
help spot suspicious or out of place commands. But even if you
don't know your way around codes it may help to look at the
contents of a data file anyway. Strange messages are commonly
inserted by virus writers and can be read within the code. Look
at a data file with a word processing program and search for
these.
It's very helpful to know how your
computer and the programs on it work. Look for unusual actions
such as changes in screens and graphics and unanticipated disk
activity. Keep a watch on the amount of available RAM on your
system. A sudden decrease in available memory is a tip-off that
something is amiss.
It's a good idea to write down or print
out the file sizes of your various programs and check them
occasionally to see if an increase has occurred. This can
indicate a virus, although if you've added to the file since the
last check this indication will be false. Know the contents of
your CONGIG.SYS and AUOEXEC.BAT files and check them for any
extra or inserted lines or commands.
Whether you use a personal computer or
work on a company mainframe you should know the most common signs
of computer virus activity. These include:
- Applications that don't work
properly.
- Disks can't be accessed.
- Printing doesn't work
correctly.
- Pull-down menus are
distorted.
- File size changes for no apparent
reason.
- Date of last access does not match date
of last use.
- An increase in the number of files on
the system when nothing has been added
- Uncommanded disk drive
activity.
- Unusual error messages.
- System slows down, freezes or
crashes.
If your system does become infected a
total rebuild is needed. If you have your hard drive backed up
you shouldn't be facing much of a problem. If you're not backed
up you are going to lose valuable data.
Copyright © Tiare Publications Group.
About the Author:
Laura Quarantiello is the author of "Cyber Crime - How to
Protect
Yourself From Computer Criminals" More information at
http://www.tiare.com/ .
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