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New computer viruses are being generated, exposed and fought every day. These computer viruses are created often just to annoy us and to inflict chaos in our computer systems. Hereunder, I have described ten viruses recently cited as being the most prevalent and being potentially able to cause the most harm. However, new viruses are being developed daily, so this list is by no means complete. The only thing you can do is remain alert, keep your anti-virus software updated, and keep aware of the current computer virus threats.

Virus: Trojan.Lodear: A Trojan (from Trojan Horse) that attempts to download files from a remote source. It will inject a .dll file into the EXPLORER.EXE process causing system instability.

Virus: W32.Beagle.CO@mm: A mass-mailing worm that lowers security settings. It can delete security-related registry sub keys and may prevent admittance to security-related websites.

Virus: Backdoor.Zagaban: A Trojan that allows the infected computer to be operated as a covert proxy and which may degrade network performance.

Virus: W32/Netsky-P: A mass-mailing worm which propagates by emailing itself to addresses produced from files on the local drives.

Virus: W32/Mytob-GH: A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan for the Windows platform. Messages sent by this worm will have the subject chosen randomly from a list including titles such as: Notice of account limitation, Email Account Suspension, Security measures, Members Support, Important Notification.

Virus: W32/Mytob-EX: A mass-mailing worm and IRC backdoor Trojan similar in nature to W32-Mytob-GH. W32/Mytob- EX runs continuously in the background, providing a backdoor server which allows a remote hacker to gain admittance and control over your computer via IRC channels. This virus spreads by sending itself to email attachments gleaned from your email address book.

Virus: W32/Mytob-AS, Mytob-BE, Mytob-C, and Mytob-ER: This family of worm variations possesses similar characteristics in terms of what they are able to do. They are mass-mailing worms with backdoor functionality that can be controlled through the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) network. Furthermore, they can propagate themselves through email and through various operating system vulnerabilities such as the LSASS (MS04-011).

Virus: Zafi-D: A mass-mailing worm and a peer-to-peer worm which copies itself to the Windows system folder with the filename Norton Update.exe. It can then create a number of files in the Windows system folder with filenames consisting of 8 random characters and a DLL extension. W32/Zafi-D replicates itself to folders with names containing words like ‘share’, ‘upload’, or ‘music’ as ‘ICQ 2005a new!.exe’ or ‘winamp 5.7 new!.exe’. W32/Zafi-D will also display a fake error message box with the caption “CRC: 04F6Bh” and the text “Error in packed file!”.

Virus: W32/Netsky-D: A mass-mailing worm with IRC backdoor functionality which can also contaminate computers vulnerable to the LSASS (MS04-011) exploit.

Virus: W32/Zafi-B: A peer-to-peer (P2P) and email worm that will reproduce itself to the Windows system folder as a randomly named EXE file. This worm will test for the presence of an Internet connection by attempting to connect to google.com or microsoft.com. A bilingual, worm with an attached Hungarian political text message box which translates to ?We demand that the government accommodates the homeless, tightens up the penal code and VOTES FOR THE DEATH PENALTY to cut down the increasing crime. Jun. 2004, P?cs (SNAF Team)?

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the network antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software

If you log on to the Internet, you definitely need anti-virus software. It does not matter whether you do not use a computer. Whatever you use to get on line you must have anti-virus software. Although there are hundreds of malicious idiots producing viruses to attack those who log on to the Internet from a computer, there is an increasing number who are focusing on mobile phone users as well.

It is more difficult to clear viruses from your cell phone too, because there are less outlets for the anti-virus software and mobile phone users are often less technologically savvy than computer users, although the method of clearing the virus is quite analogous.

Let’s just use the example of using computers to go on line. If you go on line, your ant-virus software is your most essential piece of software. It does not matter what you use the Internet for – transferring data back to base or reading emails from friends – you are subject to attack.

For example, if you use the Internet only to communicate with your head office, a hacker could try to piggy-back your connection to gain admittance to the mainframe at head office and perhaps access financial or other personal data and if you just send to and receive emails from your friends and family, you are open to assault from malevolent fools around the world.

If you use webmail such as that offered by Yahoo, Hotmail and MSN to name only the most popular, you will be protected from the most obvious attacks, but still not safe. If you receive your email via an email client such as Outlook or Outlook Express, then you do not even have that small amount of protection.

If you do not use email, but only surf the Internet for research or whatever, you are still not safe, because some websites and loaded with viruses, trojans and worms, waiting to unload them onto unwary surfers.

Therefore, whatever reason you surf the Internet for, you could do with some type of protection. Fortunately, anti-virus software for personal use is low-cost and can even be free. Business users will normally get tax relief on their purchases.

However, be cautious with the free anti-virus software, because not all of it is effectual enough. The exceptions that spring readily to mind are Avira and AVG. These are exceptional products and have justly gained worldwide praise. Just Google the two names to get the download URL.

The anti-virus software that costs something (typically $25-$50 per annum) invariably offer one to two months free examination before you buy and a reduction in price, if you pay for more than one year at a time. Names that fall into this class are Kaspersky, McAfee, Norton and Nod.

After you have chosen your software, the subsequent steps are the same for free and paid software. First install it and then configure it. If you are not certain how to do that do not worry, the default settings are fine for the vast majority of users. The only choice you will get that it is imperative you make correctly is to consent to automatic updates.

New viruses are being exposed or fixed every day and for your anti-virus software to be effective, you must permit it to update itself whenever it wants to.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on many subjects, but is currently involved with the network antivirus software. If you have an interest in such software, please go over to our website now at Computer Antivirus Software

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