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Commputer viruses and worms are computer programs that are designed to harmfully impact the way your computer works without your knowledge or permission. These malicious computer programs are pieces of programming code that usually comes from the Internet or via e-mail and 'infect' your computer or system. Once your computer becomes infected, the virus/worm can spread and do damage to your operating system, your program files, and data and infect other people in your e-mail address book

Viruses maybe sent to your computer through file sharing, e-mail or downloads from the Internet. The virus program code becomes activated when you open the infected file, boot the computer with and infected disk, or use an infected floppy disk or by 'clicking' on an infected program file sent as an attachment.

When a computer becomes infected by an e-mail attachment, it can be spread to other users that are in your e-mail address book. Some of the more widely known viruses and worms, such as KLEZ, "I Love You' and Code red viruses started as an e-mail attachment. Clicking on the attachment to view it can launch the propagation of the computer virus.

It is strongly suggested that you do not open e-mail attachments from an unknown sender.

Another way to protect your computer is to install anti-virus software. Hofstra University requires anti-virus software be installed on all Windows computers connected to the Hofstra's network and recommends anti-virus software for Mac computers. Anti-virus software from the following companies all meet Hofstra's anti-virus requirement for Windows computers; Microsoft (free), Avast (free), AVG (free), McAfee and Symantec.

Some signs of virus infection: a program or file is suddenly missing; an unusual message or graphics is displayed; size of a file changes without explanation; a program or file does not work as expected.
Be sure to install anti-virus software on your computer and keep the virus signature files up-to-date. Once a new virus is introduced, the anti-virus program identifies the virus through a virus signature. By setting the anti-virus program to update the virus signatures automatically, you can prevent virus infections.
Make a bootable recovery disk to restart your computer in case it becomes infected. Be sure the recovery disk is write-protected by sliding the write protection tab to the top of the disk.
Never open an e-mail attachment without scanning it first.
Set your anti-virus software to check all downloads from the Internet for viruses.
Backup your files frequently.
Keep informed about current viruses here and virus 'hoaxes' at here.

How Computer Viruses Work
http://www.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm

Current threats and virus information
http://home.mcafee.com/VirusInfo/ThreatActivity

Virus Hoaxes
http://home.mcafee.com/VirusInfo/VirusHoaxes