2. By Frank Perez 9D Qatar Academy

3. Quite simply, the problem is that people have been given the ability to download files such as music and software for free, against copy right and against the law using programs. They may be aware of the consequences and these people may have well gone through the consequences before but it seems that they do not learn from the consequences and therefore continue to use these programs.

4. Examples of such programs are limewire, frostwire and bit torrent. These are the three of the most common sharing programs used around the world. People use them and get a virus once, but they do not learn from it, so they continue to use these programs.

5. There are a number of different dangers to using these programs. Around 90% of these dangers are in the form of viruses that can damage your computer and allow the creator of the virus to view your own personal files and information such as credit card numbers and passwords against your will, or they can be less harmful and simply crash your computer in such a way that you can still backup and restore all your c-drive files but while having to reformat your computer. This is most probably the least harmful danger that can occur.

6. I can’t describe a real virus because I’m not sure myself what a real virus can really do other than hack files and cause systematic software and hardware crashes. But some people do try to fool friends with fake viruses associated with a batch file for example. Batch files are illegal to be sent over the internet because batch files are also used for viruses. The image above shows a batch file that has been used to open a lot of command prompt windows. This is completely harmless and can be easily done.

7. The only reason that there is a risk of receiving these viruses or unwanted dangers is because people use programs where they are not 100% sure what they are receiving. People who use limewire or frostwire for example will see that the files they upload are named as what they are looking for, but they don’t know what they are really receiving until it has been opened. For all we know, the file could be a virus. Although modern technology has created ways to fight these viruses, hackers who create them think and plot new ways of sending them out and think of viruses harder to get rid of and more harmful everyday.

8. The only way to be completely and utterly sure that you are 100% safe from any virus from these programs is to not download anything from these types of programs simply because you don’t know what you’re receiving until it has been opened. There are ways to strengthen your security of course, such as anti virus programs. But at times, even these become useless if the virus is so harmful, even the anti virus software itself can be infected rending it useless. But the only way to be sure that you are safe from receiving a virus from these types of programs is to not use them at all.

9. I hope you learned something from this simple presentation. Keep safe