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Above Average Computers

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Why Me?
or
Just Because You're Paranoid,
It Doesn't Mean They Aren't Out to Get You

In the old days (like maybe 15 years ago!), viruses and spyware were created by teenagers to cause random vandalism and mischief.  Now it's a multi-billion-dollar business, and the bad guys are mostly adults in remote locations out of the reach of law enforcement.  Whereas in the old days viruses wanted to be noticed, nowadays they hide, hoping to live in your computer as long as possible.

Why do people write viruses?

I often get asked, "Why do people write viruses?"  Well, it's simple:  money.  They want to steal things from you that are of value, typically to a third party willing to pay for them.  Namely:

  • Your credit card number, for obvious reasons
  • Your identity, so that money can be borrowed falsely under your name
  • Your computer--or at least control over your computer--to send out spam, or attack other computers.  (People pay for this kind of control.)

So how do I get rid of malware?

If you'd like to try your hand at removing the viruses yourself, check out our free guide to virus removal.  But plan on devoting several hours, minimum, to the task -- it's time-consuming, and will require loads of patience.  And in the end, there are no guarantees.

If you try to fix it yourself and still have problems -- or if you'd just rather pay someone else to take care of it -- we can help.

 















What is a virus, you ask?
 
A few definitions for the uninitiated

Virus
Technically, a virus is any program that can spread by replicating itself. Even if a virus isn't specifically designed to cause harm, it can bring the host computer to its knees eventually by devouring all available resources (memory, disk space, etc.)

Spyware
 A program which collects information about your computer or your use of your computer and reports it to a third party.

Malware
A general term for programs written with malicious intent.  Viruses and spyware are examples of malware.


Trojan
Malware masquerading as a "good program."  For example, there are many programs available on the internet which purport to clean your computer of malware.  Some of them are trojans which will actually infect your computer rather than clean it.
Botnet
A network of computers controlled remotely for nefarious purposes (like issuing spam, attacking websites, etc.).  Your computer becomes part of this network once infected.
Worm
Malware which actively scours the internet looking for vulnerable machines to infect.  This is in contrast to viruses which spread only when a human being does something (e.g., clicks on a link, opens a suspicious email or attachment, etc.).  You don't need to do anything wrong to get attacked by a worm, other than simply being connected to the internet.