Windows 7 Annoyances

Crashes and Error Messages

Once you start peeking under Windows’ hood, you’ll notice some of the tools that have been included to help the system run smoothly. Some of these tools actually work, but it’s important to know which ones to use and which ones are simply gimmicks.

Viruses, Malware, and Spyware

Malware, or malicious software, is a class of software designed specifically to wreak havoc on a computer—your computer. Malware includes such nasty entities as viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and spyware. There are actually people who stay up late trying to dream up new ways of screwing up your PC, and apparently, not one of them can spell.

If you’re experiencing frequent crashing, nonsensical error messages, pop-up advertisements (other than when surfing the Web), or slower than normal performance, the culprit may be one of the following types of malware (as opposed to a feature authored by Microsoft):

Viruses

A virus is a program or piece of code that “infects” other software by embedding a copy of itself in one or more executable files. When the software runs, so does the embedded virus, thus propagating the infection. Viruses can replicate themselves, and some (known as polymorphic viruses) can even change their virus signatures each time to avoid detection by antivirus software. Unlike worms, next, viruses can’t infect other computers without assistance from people (a.k.a. you), a topic discussed in detail in the next section.

Worms

A worm^[6] is a special type of virus that can infect ...