Computer Viruses

What is a computer virus?

• A self-replicating software that infects other programs or files

• A malicious hardware component

• A harmless software tool

Where do computer viruses come from?

• They occur when computers are not used properly

• They are written by people with programming knowledge.

• They arise when computers are not manufactured correctly.

What do computer viruses do?

• They can make a computer user very sick.

• They can cause a computer to overheat

• They can cause data on a computer to be deleted.

Computer viruses cannot __________

• delete files on a computer

• destroy your computer's hard drive and other pieces of hardware

• damage software on your computer

It is NOT possible to get a computer virus by _________

• visiting lots of new websites on the Internet

• shutting down your computer improperly

• opening an e-mail message from someone you don't know

The number of existing computer viruses is closest to __________

• 1,000

• 1,000,000,000

• 1,000,000

The first computer virus spread through a Texas university in ____________

• 1981

• 1968

• 1995

Which is NOT a type of computer virus?

• a caterpillar

• a Trojan horse

• a worm

Which of the following is NOT a common way computer viruses spread?

• Email attachments
  

• Software updates
  

• Infected USB drives
  

• Malicious websites

How can you help prevent computer virus infections?

• Never use antivirus software
  

• Click on links from unknown sources
  

• Keep software and operating systems updated
  

• Disable your computer's firewall