COMPUTER VIRUSES By James Robins

THE IMPACT OF VIRUSES By James 2

Different effects for different viruses Just as there are many different types of viruses, there are many possible effects to your computer Some viruses might do nothing more than display annoying messages Despite many viruses being benign, there are viruses that can cause lots of harm to your computer Some viruses may even cause you to completely reset your computer 3

Impact on computer performance Viruses use up your system’s memory (RAM) when running They “infect” various programs on your computer so that when you run them, you run the virus too. Viruses can cause applications or files to open without you wanting them to- this slows down your computer and causes additional annoyances for you. In serious cases viruses can cause your computer to shut itself down or not be able to turn on properly 4

Effects on your hard drive Viruses can target the hard drive of your computer (your storage). Can modify, delete and corrupt files. Be sure to back up your files so that if you do get infected by a virus you don’t lose all of you information Most modern-day viruses actually want your hard drive to stay intact so that they can exploit your computer for longer, but there is still the risk. 5

Exploiting your computer Many viruses designed nowadays are used to get information about you from your computer This can include things like Bank account and credit card information Personal information (date of birth, mother’s maiden name, etc) Your passwords Viruses can also use your computer to send information over the internet Spreading the virus to other computers Using your computer’s processing power to hack something over the internet Broadcasting advertising or pornography using your computer Hacking your webcam so that it is continually on and sending information 6

WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A VIRUS By James 7

Common signs of a virus There are many different symptoms that mean that your computer may have a virus, such as: Slower than usual performance Lots of pop-ups Missing files Your antivirus system display a message saying you may have a virus Uh Oh! 8

How to prevent further damage To prevent the virus from spreading to other computers and to minimize damage to yours, precautions must be taken Disconnect your computer from the internet Keep your computer powered off until you are ready to remove the virus If you run Windows OS, boot Microsoft Safe Mode 9

How to remove the virus 1. Delete temporary files 2. Reconnect to internet and download a scanner 3. Disconnect from internet and run a scan 4. Delete / clean any infected files 5. Verify that the virus hasn’t changed your web browser’s home page 6. If the above steps don’t work, you may have to re-install windows 10

INTERESTING FACTS 11

Other interesting facts about viruses 40% of US households are infected with some kind of computer virus 90% of s contain malware Virus writers are often children/teens who write to improve their programming skills 6,000 viruses are created every month 20% of online viruses are released by organised crime units. 12

THANKS FOR WATCHING 13

References How Does a Virus Impact my Computer? (2011, September 25). Retrieved May 12, 2015, from virus-impact-my-computerhttp:// virus-impact-my-computer How to Remove Malware From Your Windows PC. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from windows_pc.html windows_pc.html How Viruses Can Damage Your Computer. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2015, from Security News. (2010). Retrieved May 15, 2015, from What is a computer virus? (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2015, from What is a computer virus? Anatomy of Computer Viruses. (n.d.). Retrieved May 15, 2015, from viruses.htmlhttp:// viruses.html 14