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Home > Archive > General Discussion > April 2001 > How does a virus infect your computer?
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How does a virus infect your computer?
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| Bernie 2001-04-18, 9:55 am |
| I've heard both answers on this and I think I'm right. Someone told me that you can infect your computer by just opening the email(not all viruses), but others you would have to open the attachment to launch. I'm thinking it infects only by opening the attachment. This makes much more sense. Can anybody clarify? | |
| SasiSan 2001-04-18, 10:07 am |
| I found this in the Virus Primer at:
http://www.antivirus.com/pc-cillin/vinfo/vprimer.htm
Problem is that e-mail can now have script in it, if your security on Outlook is set wrong then you might run the script, the malicious code just be opening the e-mail...
"What Kind of Files Can Spread a Virus?
Viruses can infect any type of file that contains executable code. Originally, these were just "program files" which were, and still are, directly executed by the computer such as files with .COM or .EXE extensions in Windows/DOS. Today, many other file types can contain executable code such as word processing and spreadsheet documents that use macros, which are simple embedded programs.
"Other viruses infect executable code in the boot sector of floppy disks or in system areas of hard drives. And it's possible for HTML documents to spread viruses or carry other forms of malicious code through JavaScript or other similar types of script.
"Since virus code must be executed, files that are recognized by the computer as pure data files are generally safe. These include graphics and sound files such as .gif, .jpg, .mp3, or .wav files as well as plain text in .txt files. Just opening a text file or viewing picture files won't infect your computer with a virus. The virus code has to be in a form that the computer will actually try to execute." | |
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| Firebird81 2001-04-19, 9:57 am |
| The notorious KAK worm proved to the world that simply opening an e-mail can infect your computer. This stupid little worm activates on the 1st of the month and manages to infect all of your e-mail and send itself out to all your friends-whoopee. Norton says their software will find it, but in our experiences with this !@#$#@ little bastard Norton won't recognize it unless you first start deleting files. I know of one person whose computer e-mailed this little package to over 600 different people! It brought networks to screeching halt as this little monster wormed its way into file after file after file, then proceeded to e-mail itself to everybody. Microsoft has a security patch that will render these types of vermin powerless. It's an Outlook Express security hole. This worm remains on Norton's 10 most wanted list after nearly 2 years! |
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