COMPUTER
VIRUS
DONE BY : AAKRITI
SHRESTHA
COMPUTER VIRUS
A PIECE OF CODE WHICH IS CAPABLE OF
COPYING ITSELF AND TYPICALLY HAS A
DETRIM ENT EFFECT , SUCH AS CORRUPTING
THE SYSTEM OR DESTROYING DATA .
TYPES OF COMPUTER
VIRUS
1. Boot sector virus
2. direct action virus
3. resident virus
4. multipartite virus
5. polymorphic virus
TYPES OF COMPUTER
VIRUSES
6 . Overwrite virus
7 . Spacefiller virus
BOOT SECTOR VIRUS
From a user perspective, boot sector viruses are some of the most
dangerous. Because they infect the master boot record, they are notoriously
difficult to remove, often requiring a full system format. This is especially true
if the virus has encrypted the boot sector or excessively damaged the code.
They typically spread via removable media. They reached a peak in the
1990s when floppy disks were the norm, but you can still find them on USB
drives and in email attachments. Luckily, improvements in BIOS architecture
have reduced their prevalence in the last few years.
DIRECT ACTION VIRUS
A direct action virus is one of the two main types of file infector viruses (the
other being a resident virus). The virus is considered non-resident; it doesnt
install itself or remain hidden in your computers memory.
It works by attaching itself to a particular type of file (typically EXE or COM
files). When someone executes the file, it springs into life, looking for other
similar files in the directory for it to spread t
On a positive note, the virus does not typically delete files nor hinder your
systems performance. Aside from some files becoming inaccessible, it has a
minimal impact on a user and can be easily removed with an anti-virus
program.
RESIDENT VIRUS
Resident viruses are the other primary type of file infectors. Unlike direct action
viruses, they install themselves on a computer. It allows them to work even when
the original source of the infection has been eradicated.
In a worst-case scenario, they can even attach themselves to your anti-virus
software, infecting every file the software scans. You often need a unique tool
such as an operating system patch for their total removalnsider them to be
more dangerous than their direct action cousin.
MULTIPARTITE VIRUS
While some viruses are happy to spread via one method or deliver a single
payload, Multipartite viruses want it all. A virus of this type may spread in
multiple ways, and it may take different actions on an infected computer
depending on variables, such as the operating system installed or the
existence of certain files.
They can simultaneously infect both the boot sector and executable files,
allowing them to act quickly and spread rapidly.
The two-pronged attack makes them tough to remove. Even if you clean a
machines program files, if the virus remains in the boot sector, it will
immediately reproduce once you turn on the computer again.
POLYMORPHIC VIRUS
According to Symantec, polymorphic viruses are one of the most difficult to
detect for an anti-virus program. It claims anti-virus firms need to spend days
or months creating the detection routines needed to catch a single polymorphic
But why are they so hard to protect against? The clue is in the name. Anti-virus
software can only blacklist one variant of a virus but a polymorphic virus
changes its signature (binary pattern) every time it replicates. To an anti-virus
program, it looks like an entirely different piece of software, and can,
therefore, elude the blacklist.
OVERWRITE VIRUS
To an end-user, an overwrite virus is one of the most frustrating, even if its not
particularly dangerous for your system as a whole.
Thats because it will delete the contents of any file which it infects; the only way to
remove the virus is to delete the file, and consequently, lose its contents. It can infect
both standalone files and entire pieces of software.
Overwrite viruses typically have low visibility and are spread via email, making them
hard to identify for an average PC user. They enjoyed a heyday in the early 2000s
with Windows 2000 and Windows NT, but you can still find them in the wild.
SPACEFILLER VIRUS
Also known as Cavity Viruses, spacefiller viruses are more intelligent than
most of their counterparts. A typical modus operandi for a virus is to simply
attach itself to a file, but spacefillers try to get into the empty space which
can sometimes be found within the file itself.
This method allows it to infect a program without damaging the code or
increasing its size, thus enabling it to bypass the need for the stealthy anti-
detection techniques other viruses rely on.
Luckily, this type of virus is relatively rare, though the growth of Windows
Portable Executable files is giving them a new lease of life.
ANTIVIRUS
Antivirus software is a type of utility used for scanning and
removing viruses from your computer. While many types of antivirus (or "anti-
virus") programs exist, their primary purpose is to protect computers from viruses
and remove any viruses that are found.
Most antivirus programs include both automatic and manual scanning
capabilities. The automatic scan may check files that are downloaded from the
Internet, discs that are inserted into the computer, and files that are created by
software installers. The automatic scan may also scan the entire hard drive on a
regular basis. The manual scan option allows you to scan individual files or your
entire system whenever you feel it is necessary.
TYPES OF ANTIVIRUS
1. AVG
2. Comodo Antivirus
3. Panda Cloud Antivirus
4. Immunet Protect FREE
5. PC Tools Antivirus FREE
