Virus Removal is Hard Work
Feb 5, 2010 Tech News
Whether it’s Conflickr or a new fake anti-malware program, it seems like spyware and viruses are inescapable for any PC connected to the internet. It’s estimated that the amount spent annually on security software in the United States has risen to over $800 million in recent years, but computers are still getting infected daily. Why aren’t we virus free yet?
The answer is found in the nature of malicious programming or greedy programmers. Computer viruses don’t spring up out of nowhere, they’re designed by programmers who either have nothing better to do and think it is going to be interesting, or pros who earn cash by abusing your computer. Whenever anti-virus vendors are informed of a new virus, they create a new definition for their anti-virus software to help isolate and remove that virus if it is downloaded onto your computer. Once the new definition is widespread enough that a serious share of PCs are safe against that virus, a newer one is made by the nefarious programmers and the cycle begins again. Nearly two thousand new viruses were identified each day in 2007, and the issue isn’t going away soon. This is the reason why you need to allow your anti-virus software to download new virus definitions so often.
Frustrated hackers bored with the rapid turnover of “regular” viruses have graduated to attacking your PC’s defences directly: your anti-virus software. Many new viruses include programming that either hides itself specifically from several popular anti-virus programs, prevents them from downloading new virus definitions, or shuts them down entirely. Even when these new viruses are identified quickly, many PCs will already be infected and the software on the machines won’t be able to get rid of the virus. In circumstances where one virus shuts down the anti-virus software entirely, other viruses will usually infect the machine and can render it inoperable in a couple of hours if not minutes. Still other nasty viruses employ tricks to avoid removal strategies, and will re-infect a machine after an anti-virus program or a user attempts to delete them.
The struggle against computer viruses is non stop, but you can do something to help shield your system. Installing a good anti-virus program and allowing it to update frequently is just the first step, but be wary of fake anti-virus programs you can find online (many of these are viruses themselves). The fake anti-virus programs normally go by the names : Antivirus 2010 Pro, Windows Pro Police, System Guard 2009, Personal Antivirus, Antispyware XP 2009, and lots more. You can see a pattern in how they name themselves. Never download anything from a person or internet site you do not trust, never open a suspicious email (you do not always have to open the attachments to become infected), and don’t go to websites with a poor reputation. If you take these steps and your computer still gets infected, have a trained professional remove the virus for you instead of making an attempt to remove it yourself. Modern viruses can be very difficult to isolate and remove, and it’s very easy to break your system accidentally while attempting to remove one.
If you’ve got a slow computer and think you are infected, call Geek Choice today. Our techs have the tools required for proper virus removal and have access to fast breaking reports about new types of viruses and their removal. Geek Choice is a nationwide on-site computer repair company.
Tags: Computer Repair, malware, Slow Computer, Slow Internet, spyware, virus