Where do computer viruses come from?

Computer viruses become a threat to most of the computer users. But have you ever wondered “where do computer viruses come fromPerhaps with this knowledge you will be able to enjoy all the benefits of your PC without becoming a virus victim.

Behind every virus is a computer programmer. They create viruses for various reasons. It may be to demonstrate skill. They can be eager students seeking the admiration of their peers. But most of the time viruses are created by cyber criminals. They are designed to steal or copy your personal data for profit. It can be to gain access to passwords or credit card details. It may be to use your Internet connection without your knowledge for illegal purposes. Or it may just be bombarding you with spam and fake ads.

Therefore, viruses can be simply annoying or they can lead to financial ruin. Either way, they are something we all need to stay away from and we can do so by knowing a little more about them.

The most common source of virus infection is of course the Internet, this will not come as a surprise and it does not mean that you have to stop accessing the Internet. Most people who unknowingly contract viruses from the network do so because they are happy to click. By this I mean that they will click and download whatever is offered without knowing whether or not they can trust the source.

Here’s a simple tip: Before clicking on a link, check its status bar (usually at the bottom left) and see where it is pointing. Also make sure you don’t install any programs unless you are sure you know what they are and where they came from.

Emails and email attachments are the second most common tool used to spread computer viruses. Email attachments should be handled with great caution and you should not open any attachments that come with an email from an unknown sender. If you have a good antivirus package, you will be able to scan the attachments before viewing them. Make sure to do this even if it’s from a friend. They may have unknowingly sent you a virus.

Another very common way the virus spreads is as part of a package with cracks and key generators. These are generally offered on peer-to-peer networks that have illegal file-sharing programs. The victim with free software downloads would be read only to find that they were installing a virus on their own system.

The main thing is not only to have a good antivirus on your computer, it is to keep it updated because new viruses are created all the time. Again, a good antivirus suit will be updated regularly.

Hopefully this has answered the burning question “where do computer viruses come from?” Just good antivirus software and a little common sense on computers is all you really need to stay safe from computer viruses.