How do viruses work?

How do viruses work?

Basic viruses typically require unwary computer users to share or send them.

Some viruses that are more sophisticated, such as worms, can replicate and send themselves automatically to other computers by controlling other software programs, such as an e-mail sharing application.

Certain viruses, called Trojans, can appear as a beneficial program to coax users into downloading them. Some Trojans can even provide expected results while quietly damaging your system or other networked computers at the same time.

                                                             

                            To help avoid viruses, it's essential that you keep your computer current with the latest updates and antivirus tools, and that you follow a few basic rules when you surf the Internet, download files, and open attachments.

Once a virus is on your computer, its type or the method it used to get there is not as important as removing it and preventing further infection.