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<b>History</b>

 

However, with the release of the IBM PC in 1982 and the Apple Macintosh in 1984, the use of PCs became widespread in homes and businesses. This provided an ideal environment for the virus writers to try and test their skills. The use of ‘bulletin boards’ by people to download all sorts of software applications and games also contributed to the spread of viruses. In the 1980s most of the computers lacked hard disks and users often required floppy disks to load the operating system and other accessories, which propagated the spread of viruses. Early viruses were simply pieces of code tagged to a program. However, with the passage of time, virus creators got more sophisticated and astute with their job.

 

<b>What are Viruses</b>

 

Technically speaking, a computer virus is a malicious program that has the ability to replicate itself using other benign programs and applications on the host computer, so as to ensure its large scale proliferation and dispersion.

 

<b>How Do They Spread</b>

 

Computer viruses closely resemble biological viruses in their modus operandi. It becomes very easy to grasp how a computer virus spreads, once we understand the working of a biological virus. A biological virus is in itself a non-living thing. It is infact a fragment of DNA enclosed in a protective jacket and is unable to reproduce on its own. To do so, it penetrates into a living cell and uses its cellular machinery and energy to replicate itself. The replicated progeny finally ruptures the host cell and spreads the infection further by looking for new victims. Similarly, in its infection phase, a computer virus must mount on some other genuine program to activate itself. Once its does so, it gets in a position to infect other applications and files. Then it unfolds its destructive phase, which gets activated by a trigger. The results may vary from a silly message blinking on your monitor to the deletion of all or some of the important files and folders.

 

<b>Who Writes Them</b>

 

Broadly speaking, virus writers can be classified into two categories i.e. amateur writers and professional programmers. Amateur writers mostly design viruses for the thrill of it. It gives them a diabolical sense of self actualization and power. Exercising their ability to blow up the entire computer networks boosts their predilection towards cyber hooliganism. They are often least concerned about the damage they do to individuals and organizations. On the other side we have organized professional programmers who have taken to it as a profession. The write viruses to make money, by creating and selling spamming platforms, fabricating DoS attacks and other such cyber crimes. Approximately ninety percent of the virus attacks are designed and orchestrated by such professional programmers.

 

<b>How to Protect Computers against Viruses</b.

 

Certain precautions if followed religiously can go a long way in protecting computers against viruses. Computer networks should be installed with genuine antivirus software, which should be updated on a regular basis. Use internet firewall without any exceptions. Care should be taken while opening unsolicited email attachments and avoid following suspicious links.

 

<b>What to do in Case Your Data Gets Corrupted by a Virus</b>

 

In case your data gets corrupted by a virus attack, you may try using some DIY recovery software available in the market. However, this option is fraught with risks and hazards. Unless you are not sure, do not try to execute a recovery on your own. The best way out would be to hire the services of some authentic data recover company, which has the requisite tools and expertise to retrieve your valuable data.

 

<b>Some Famous Viruses</b>

 

Melissa was the first major virus that infected approximately one million computers in 1999. In 2000, I Love You virus wrecked havoc amongst the cyber community. It not only deleted important files on the infected computers, but sent confidential usernames and pass words to its authors. Soon after 9/11 attacks, Nimda virus infected many computers the world over. The notorious Sircam virus often attacks by releasing the host’s personal data on the internet. The CodeRed virus infected roughly 3,59,000 computers in the first twelve hours of its release. Some of the viruses are named after the celebrities like Shakira, Anna Kournikova and Britney Spears. In 2003, Slammer worm infected 75,000 computers within 10 minutes. In May 2004, Sasser worm infected millions of computers.