How Computer Virus Work ?

Computer viruses are mysterious and grab our attention.

On the one hand, viruses show us how vulnerable we are.

A properly engineered virus can have an amazing effect

on the worldwide Internet. On the other hand, they show

how sophisticated and interconnected human beings have become.

For example, the thing making big news right now is the Mydoom

worm, which experts estimate infected approximately a

quarter-million computers in a single day (Times Online).

Back in March 1999, the Melissa virus was so powerful that

it forced Microsoft and a number of other very

large companies

to completely turn off their e-mail systems until the virus

could be contained. The ILOVEYOU virus in 2000 had a

similarly devastating effect. That's pretty impressive when

you consider that the Melissa and ILOVEYOU viruses are incredibly simple.

In this article, we will discuss viruses -- both "traditional" viruses

and the newer e-mail viruses -- so that you can learn how they work

and also understand how to protect yourself. Viruses in general are

on the wane, but occasionally a person finds a new way to create one,

and that's when they make the news.