How does a virus get to your computer?

How does a virus get to your computer?

Computer viruses typically spread in two different ways. The most common way is by getting people to open infected files. Those files could be sent via email, downloaded from websites or on removable storage such as a USB stick: if you open the file, the virus sneaks onto your PC or Mac.

Which is the most common type of virus?

Computer viruses are designed to exploit vulnerable systems, hijack the device, and spy or steal personal data in most cases. One effective way to protect against these malicious attacks is to be able to identify them. Here are 7 of the most common types of computer viruses. Boost sector virus attacks the master boot record.

How are viruses passed from person to person?

For example, infected mothers can pass the virus to their newborns during birth, an infected person can pass it to their sexual partner and an infected drug addict can pass the virus by sharing needles with another person.

What makes a computer virus difficult to detect?

As the name implies, these types of virus can morph into a different variant every time it replicates, making them difficult to detect. Imagine that the installed antivirus program on your computer is configured to identify and blacklist one version of the virus.

What kind of infections can you get from viruses?

Sometimes the infected cell loses control over normal cell division and becomes cancerous. Some viruses, such as hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus, can cause chronic infections. Chronic hepatitis can last for years, even decades. In many people, chronic hepatitis is quite mild and causes little liver damage.

What to do if you have a viral infection?

Your immune system may be able to fight it off. For most viral infections, treatments can only help with symptoms while you wait for your immune system to fight off the virus. Antibiotics do not work for viral infections. There are antiviral medicines to treat some viral infections. Vaccines can help prevent you from getting many viral diseases.

How does a virus spread from person to person?

The virus spreads easily between people. How easily a virus spreads from person-to-person can vary. Some viruses are highly contagious, like measles, while other viruses do not spread as easily. Another factor is whether the spread is sustained, which means it goes from person-to-person without stopping.

What happens to your body when you get a virus?

Summary. Viruses are like hijackers. They invade living, normal cells and use those cells to multiply and produce other viruses like themselves. This can kill, damage, or change the cells and make you sick. Different viruses attack certain cells in your body such as your liver, respiratory system, or blood. When you get a virus,…