Starting an Online Business All-in-One For Dummies®, 3rd Edition

Avoiding Viruses and Other Malware

According to the McAfee security firm, hundreds of thousands of active virus threats are invading computers right now! Named for the germ-like nature of an illness that rapidly spreads, viruses were originally a nuisance more than anything else. Similar to thwarting hacking, programmers face the challenge of preventing the spread of irritants from one computer to another.

A virus is a program or piece of programming code. Viruses usually spread by way of e-mail attachments. The attachments can be Word documents, photos, games, or any other type of applications that play host to the virus. By opening the attachment, you unknowingly unleash the virus onto your computer and possibly help spread it to others. Viruses are almost impossible for you to detect without using some type of antivirus software.

The capability to hide a virus combined with its ease of distribution makes these attacks increasingly more threatening to the health of your computer and your online business. Some computer experts now refer to viruses as a part of malware, short for malicious software. Here are some other types of malware, viruses, and annoyances to be aware of:

• Worms: Unlike most viruses, worms don't need your help to spread. You don't have to open an attachment or accidentally launch a harmful program. A worm simply replicates itself and then spreads to other computers over a shared network. One worm that garnered quite a bit of attention a few years ago was a ...