Scott Drinkard

I Have Antivirus Software - So How Did I Get A Virus?



Posted: Friday, February 04, 2011

by Scott Drinkard
The Computer Guy

People ask me all the time how they got a virus infection on their computer when they have anti-virus software installed. It happens all the time and there can be multiple reasons for this. Let's take a look at some of them.

The first thing to remember is that no anti-virus software is 100% effective in preventing malware infections. 1000's of new virus strains are introduced every week and for the most part, anti-virus software is reactive. What I mean by this is that the anti-virus people analyze a new virus threat and then add that particular virus signature to their definitions database which is subsequently pushed out to their customers as an update. However, by the time this update reaches end-users' PCs, many computers may have already been infected.

The second reason is that anti-virus software is permission based. You can actually "tell" your anti-virus software to ignore a threat and a lot of people unwittingly do just that. It's a technique referred to as "social engineering". Basically, The bad guys trick you into downloading their malware. Here's a common scenario: You're surfing the internet when all of a sudden a window pops up displaying some scary message. This message may tell you that viruses or spyware have been detected on your computer and urge you to "CLICK HERE" to download a "removal tool" or "run a free scan". A surprising number of people will fall for this and actually click on the button. An even larger number of people see through this ruse and do not click the button but instead click the little red 'x' in the upper corner to close the window. Well, guess what. They just downloaded the malware anyway. You see, in most cases the whole pop-up window is coded to be one big 'OK' button. Even the little 'x' that closes the window. The result of clicking anywhere on the window (even if you "x'ed out") is that you are downloading the virus and at the same time telling your anti-virus software to ignore the threat and let it through. Sneaky, huh?

Another reason people still get viruses despite having anti-virus software installed is plain old human nature. Anti-virus software is boring. Being vigilant and protecting your computer is a drag. (Trust me, if it wasn't my job, I'd probably ignore my anti-virus software, too.) Most people install antivirus software and then just forget about it assuming that by having it installed, it will cast a wide enough net to catch every threat that comes along. It won't. Also, most people never learn to use their anti-virus software proactively. Taking an active role in protecting your computer is the absolute best way to avoid virus infections. All antivirus programs add an entry to the 'right-click' menu that will allow you to scan individual files for threats before you open them. If you download music, pictures, videos, etc. from the internet, you should get into a habit of scanning the file before opening it. To do this, simply right-click on the file and choose "scan with (your antivirus program)". It's easy and it only takes a couple of seconds. You can also use this feature to scan email attachments before opening them.

So now you're probably wondering why you should even bother with antivirus software if you can still get viruses anyway. The answer is simple. Here's an analogy: When you leave your house, you lock the door behind you, right? That's no guarantee that your home won't be burglarized by a determined criminal, but locking the door is still the smart thing to do. The same logic applies to protecting your PC. You still need the layer of protection that anti-virus software gives you even if it's not 100% foolproof. That basic protection along with a little vigilance and education, can keep you PC virus free!

If you have questions about how you can protect your PC (or any other computer related questions) Please visit the 'Questions' area of my Facebook page. Go to facebook.com/odessacomputerguy and become a fan of the page and I'll answer your questions for free!
If you enjoyed this article visit him on Facebook at facebook.com/odessacomputerguy and become a fan.

Scott Drinkard is a freelance computer repair and networking technician living and working in Odessa, Texas. As the owner of Odessa based "The Computer Guy" Mr. Drinkard has been serving the fine people of West Texas for 12 years. You can read more by Mr. Drinkard by visiting www.odessacomputerguy.net.
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