Week 7: "V is for Virus, It's bad for your computers!"

Hello!

This week in class, we learnt about various computer virus and worms and how they have affected several systems in the end. Some viruses were created just for pure fun while some really meant to damage the system infrastructure of the companies affected. We rely (or over rely, actually) on our computers/internet to do our work, that without it we are unable to proceed to do our work.

VIRUS

To recap, a computer virus attaches itself to a program or file enabling it to spread from one computer to another. There are different levels of severity when a virus attacks, ranging from mild to risky. A virus cannot be spread without the user's (or host!) action and the users are usually kept in the dark about the virus that they are transmitting as it is hidden.

WORMS

Computer worms are malicious software applications that  spread via computer networks by exploiting security loopholes, as compared to viruses which NEEDS a host to run. Usually, this worms will be sent via email (and also other ways of course) and will replicate themselves to infect other computers in the servers as well.

They are hidden little pesky creatures hidden in attachments and they can be deadly!

Gotta be aware of them and refrain yourself from getting infected by using anti virus softwares!

Just a fun fact, the first anti virus software were Flushot Plus and Anti4Us developed in the 1980s! Now now, it's been quite some time hasn't it? Make sure you have your anti virus software updated regularly ok!

Anyway, in class we also discussed about the different viruses that were viral at one point of a time and ILOVEYOU virus was the one that caught my eye.

Not this ILOVEYOU:

Rather, it's this sneaky little pest:

It was first sent out on 5 May 2000 in the Philippines and then it moved to Hong Kong,  Europe and finally United States.

What did it send out in the email? Your "love letter" and since it is a worm, it is able to replicate itself and send it to other computers in the same server and then infect your computer. or your friends and families. The thing about this virus is it makes the users' mailing list as a source of target so people assume they are getting this message from their friends/families and are most likely to open them as they believe it is a safe source. But of course, they were tricked and.............goodbye productivity and $$$$.

I really think it is a smart and clever way to ask people to open and read the presumed love letter by an admirer. I mean, that's a really good way to reel people in. Who would have thought eh! It just takes one gullible person to open it and you, might just be the next one on line to be infected by it.

Scary right.


Well, my friends, just a friendly reminder from me to you.......Remember to always stay safe, keep a lookout for suspicious email and ALWAYS update your anti virus software.


You'll need it.

Besides, prevention is better than cure isn't it?



XO,
A.