What is a virus or worm, and how does it affect my computer?
Viruses and worms are two types of malicious software (malware) that can infect your systems. The main difference between them is how they operate: viruses generally slow down computers, while worms can have more severe effects. In this blog we will talk about how to clear worms or viruses from infecting your computer.
We live in an interactive world where your Mobile, Laptop, PC, and/or Tablet is the centre of your life. Viruses and worms are malicious programs that can infect your computer. They can be hard to spot, and they spread quickly. Some viruses and worms are more destructive than others, but all of them can make your computer run slower than normal or even crash altogether.
Viruses and worms are very similar in the way they infect a computer
You pay your bills, organise your life, store photos and memories and have access to everything instantly. Losing precious information to a virus or hardware failure can have a serious impact.
Viruses and worms are very similar in the way they infect a computer. Both of them are considered malware, which means that they are harmful to your system. They spread through email attachments, websites, or by using removable media like USB drives.
While worms can sometimes be benign (not harmful), most often than not, viruses and worms will result in problems for your computer such as:
- Slowdowns
- Memory leaks
- Malware infections
You should be especially mindful of the files you download from email and the websites you visit
Viruses usually appear as an email attachment or file download link in an email message. When you open a virus-infected file or click on a malicious link, it installs itself on your system and then tries to spread locally or over the internet. This happens by sending itself to other people’s computers (via email, for example). A worm is different from a virus because it replicates autonomously; rather than waiting for users to open or run infected files or links, worms copy themselves onto new systems automatically as soon as they become available for connection.
This means that there’s no way for you or other people at home who use your computer to prevent having your information stolen by these kinds of malware: all you can do is keep yourself safe from them! Consider scanning any new files with antivirus software before opening them. Never click on suspicious-looking links sent via email unless you’re sure what site sent it! BBC Bitesize provides another great explanation of how this all works
Viruses and worms can be prevented with up-to-date antivirus protection on your computer
GT Systems supports home services and businesses with these issues. Check out our website links for further information, or give us a call – we are here to help! How to clear worms or viruses from infecting your computer is something we can support with.
Give us a call today – 01604 807824 / 07920 449587 or contact us via the website