There can be any number of issues to affect a computer’s performance over its lifetime of use. From hardware failures such as a hard drive or monitor to software bugs, such as Trojans, worms and viruses. The term for a virus as it relates to a computer was fist used in the 1972 novel by David Gerrold, “When HARLIE Was One.” A virus in the case of computers is analogous to a virus as it relates to human biology. Computer viruses are self-replicating computer programs. These programs are capable of self-replication via an executable code.

There are varying grades of computer viruses in terms of their sever-ability to the normal functioning of a computer. Some viruses have been developed with the capability to completely erase a hard disk of all of its files. Once started – they can not be stopped. Others may only infect certain files or programs. You should also be very careful when transferring files from one computer to another. It is a good strategy to use secure FTP programs like File Zilla to transfer the files from your computer to the FTP server.

The most heralded and used approach towards combating computer viruses is through the use of computer anti-virus software. This software is developed to scan a computer’s hard-drive for any indications of a computer virus by way of a vast directory of existing computer viruses. In other words, this software analyzes files in a computer and compares them to an existing database of viruses. When a virus is located, the user of the computer is often alerted and able to isolate and eventually destroy the program.

Other methods of combating computer virus infections include preventative care, such as the use of anti-virus software that alerts the computer user of potentially dangerous or risky files or web sites, where a virus can usually be hidden. For example, file attachments via e-mail is a common mode of transport for any number of very dangerous viruses. If the computer user is unfamiliar with the sender of an email, it is more prudent for the user not to access the file attachment but ask it be sent another way.