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Oracle Tips by Burleson |
Web Stalkers
Chapter 12 - Virus Attacks
What Is a Virus?
A computer virus is a piece of code, or perhaps
a program that is capable of replicating itself and spreading
throughout a computer network in a fashion similar to biological
viruses. These viruses attach themselves to other files without
detection and operate within the computer according to the
instructions given to them by the virus’ author. Like biological
viruses, there are many variations of computer viruses, and they
work and spread in different ways.
A virus does something. What exactly it does,
its purpose, its function, is commonly referred to as the virus’
payload. The payload is determined by the author of the
virus at the time it is created, and it reflects a set of
instructions given to the virus. The kinds of instructions given
are limited only by the imaginations of their authors. They range
from harmless to incredibly dangerous and all the points in between.
Some viruses will lie dormant on a machine
until a trigger is tripped. The virus may be waiting for a certain
date and time. Others will be looking for a particular kind of
operation to occur on the computer, and then it executes its
instructions at that point. One commonly used trigger is the opening
of an email message to which the virus is attached.
“We typically see 800-900 new viruses every
month”.
Chris Kraft, Senior Security Analyst, Sophos
Inc.
Not all viruses however are dependent on a
trigger. Some are instructed to begin operating the instant they
arrive at a machine. This type of virus will usually hit hard and
spread fast. Viruses of this type can use email systems to send
themselves without the user’s knowledge.
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