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Article: ANTI-VIRUS PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE, NECESSARY.(AT HOME)(Computers)
- Article from:
- The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH)
- Article date:
- August 30, 1997
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 The Cincinnati Post. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Dialog LLC by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Ken Mahler
DEAR KEN: What is a computer virus and how does a computer get one? How can you tell that you actually have a virus? - C.B.
DEAR C.B.: A computer virus is actually nothing more than a computer program whose mission is to cause damage to as many computers as possible. It can be as benign as a message flashing on your screen. The worst ones destroy your files.
Viruses are designed to spread from computer to computer, infecting each along the way - hence the term ''virus.''
They are most commonly spread when infected floppy diskettes are shared. So, if a well-meaning friend gives you a program (which is a copyright ...