Chapter 1. Viruses: Attack of the Malicious Programs

In this chapter

  • What Is a Computer Virus?

  • More Types of Virus Than Ways to Order Coffee

  • Specialty Viruses: Trojan Horses, Worms, and More

  • What Nasty Stuff Viruses Can Do

  • Who Writes Viruses and Why They Can’t Get a Date

  • Defend Yourself—In About 10 Minutes

  • Fortify Your Defenses—In an Afternoon

We all know computer viruses are bad. This chapter explains what they are, what they do, and where they come from. It examines all the types that can potentially infect your computer and make your life a living hell. It also covers specialty viruses called worms and Trojan horses. And it looks at how viruses exploit programming bugs in your computer and what to do about it. Of course, the best part is that it shows ...

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