As it is so common in the modern age of computers, everybody knows that an antivirus is a program used to keep your computer safe from all kinds of viruses and takes action before you get in trouble. There are various types of viruses spread by hackers to make money and steal your information. These malware and viruses are covid-19 for computers as they can damage the computer to the point that it can no longer operate.
Even surfing the browser, your computer may access the webpage that triggers the automatic download of a malware-infected app or any other files, such as games, music, videos, or any documents. These files are not safe because they may have malware programmed in them, therefore having an AV installed in your computer is necessary, and some of the antiviruses also come with a VPN if you get the right plan. The VPN not only offers extra protection but also keeps your information protected.
Common Type of Viruses
Boot Sector Virus:
This virus is very harmful because it infects a computer’s floppy disk or the master boot record (MBR). It is usually hard to remove and often requires reformatting the entire hard drive, thus leading to the loss of data. This virus spreads through removable storage devices such as memory cards, external hard drives (IDE, EIDE, SCSSI, and SSD), USB flash drivers, and smartphones.
- Overwrite Virus:
This virus copies its codes over a computer’s host files data, which destroys the original program. The only way to remove it is by deleting the actual files that result in the loss of data stored only in those files. Overwriting viruses are not, therefore, a real problem. This virus is mostly spread through emails.
- Macro Virus:
This virus is written in the same macro language used for software programs. They embed malicious code in these documents and data files, which begin to run when the files are opened. The virus may then infect all of the user’s documents, altering them or making them unreadable. The virus spreads if the user shares an infected file.
- Direct Action Virus:
This virus attacks certain types of files, mostly .exe and .com files. This virus copies and infect files in folders. Although this virus does not affect the computer’s performance or delete files, it can still hinder the working of the affected files.
- Resident Virus:
This virus hides in RAM. The resident virus can infect any file run by the computer, which can lead to the corruption of files and programs. The most common examples of resident viruses are CMJ, MrKlunky, Randex, and Meve. The resident virus has two types.
Fast Infector:
Fast infectors do massive damage quickly that makes them very easy to notice.
- Slow Infector:
Slow infectors are not easy to detect, which is why they can spread more widely.
Does an Antivirus affect PC performance?
Yes, it does. According to old theories, Antivirus can slow your PC down to 40%, but it is no longer a reality. Antivirus fights with all the unwanted programs and eliminates them, which makes your computer operate at its optimum capacity without any problem. However, a pro tip is to keep your antivirus software updated so that it keeps working smoothly.
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