A computer virus is a program designed to harm or cause harm on an infected computer. Its spreads through e-mail attachments, portable devices, websites containing malicious scripts and file downloads. A computer virus attaches itself to the host files and always activate whenever you open the infected files. The virus can replicate itself and then infect the other files on your computer causing more damage. Below is a list of different types of computer viruses and what they do.
The Types of Viruses
Virus Type | What It Does | How Affects Our PC |
Infects executables (other programs, with affixes such as EXE, BIN, COM, SYS) | Destroys or alters programs and data. | |
Boot sector Virus | Infects boot sectors on hard and floppy disks | Destroys or alters programs and data. |
Multipartite Virus | A hybrid of a program and boot sector virus | Destroys or alters programs and data. |
| Macro Virus | Triggers on a command in Microsoft Office | Commonly affects Word & Excel |
Uses various tactics to avoid detection. | Destroys or alters programs and data. | |
Polymorphic Virus | Uses encryption to foil detection, so that it appears differently in each infection. | Destroys or alters programs and data. |
Macro Viruses
These viruses infect the files created using some applications or programs that contain macros such as doc, pps, xls and mdb. They automatically infect the files with macros and also templates and documents that are contained in the file. They hide in documents shared through e-mail and networks.
Macro viruses include:
- Relax
- bablas
- Melissa.A
- 097M/Y2K
Memory Resident Viruses
They usually fix themselves inside the computer memory. They get activated every time the OS runs and end up infecting other opened files. They hide in RAM.
Memory Resident Viruses Include:
- CMJ
- meve
- randex
- mrklunky
Overwrite Viruses
These types of viruses delete any information in a file they infect, leaving them partially or completely useless once they are infected. Once in the computer, they replaces all the file content but the file size doesn’t change.
Overwrite Viruses Include:
- Trj.Reboot
- way
- trivial.88.D
Direct Action Viruses
These viruses mainly replicate or take action once they are executed. When a certain condition is met, the viruses will act by infecting the files in the directory or the folder specified in the AUTOEXEC.BAT. The viruses are generally found in the hard disk’s root directory, but they keep on changing location.
Direct Action Viruses Include:
- Vienna virus
Directory Virus
Also known as cluster virus or file system virus. They infect the computer’s directory by changing the path indicating file location. They are usually located in the disk but affect the entire directory.
Directory Viruses Include:
- dir-2 virus
Web Scripting Virus
Most web pages include some complex codes in order to create an interactive and interesting content. Such a code is often exploited to cause certain undesirable actions. They mostly originate from the infected web pages or browsers.
Web Scripting Viruses Include:
- JS.Fortnight – a virus that spreads via malicious emails.
Multipartite Virus
These type of viruses spread in many different ways. Their actions vary depending on the OS installed and presence of certain files. They tend to hide in the computer’s memory but do not infect the hard disk.
Multipartite Viruses Include:
- flip
- invader
- tequila
FAT Viruses
These lardy viruses attack the file allocation table (FAT) which is the disc part used to store every information about the available space, location of files, unusable space etc.
FAT Viruses Include:
- the link virus
Companion Viruses
These types of viruses infect files just like the direct action and the resident types. Once inside the computer, they ‘accompany’ other existing files.
Companion Viruses Include:
- Asimov.1539
- stator and terrax.1069
Polymorphic Virus
They encode or encrypt themselves in a different way every time they infect your computer. They use different encryption and algorithms. This makes it difficult for the antivirus software to locate them using signature or string searches (since they are very different in each encryption).
Polymorphic Viruses Include:
- Marburg
- tuareg
- Satan bug
- elkern
Worm
This program is very similar to a virus and has the ability to self-replicate leading to negative effects on your computer.
Worm Viruses Include:
- lovgate.F
- sobig.D
- trile. C
- PSWBugbear.B
- Mapson
Trojans
Trojans can illegally trace important login details of users online. For example E-Banking is very common among users, therefore, vulnerability of tracing your login details whenever your PC is working without any strong powerful antivirus installed.
Email Virus
This is a virus spread via an email. Such a virus will hide in an email and when the recipient opens the mail.
Browser Hijacker
This virus can spread in many different ways including a voluntary download. If infects certain browser functions especially in form of re-directing the user automatically to certain sites. A good example is
Browser Hijackers Include:
- the cool web search
Boot Infectors
They include the boot sector plus master boot record types. All the viral codes can be separate location; however they infect the hard disks or the floppy.
Boot Infectors Include:
- the brain virus -it is the very first wild virus to be created.
From what we have seen, the many types of computer viruses and their effects are very harmful and can completely damage your system. Always make sure your system is up to date. Also install antivirus software. The antivirus program protects your computer and the personal information in it.
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