Internet Safety: Viruses

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Viruses, Trojans and Worms
3. Logic Bombs and Other Threats
   1. Virus Quiz 2
   2. Screen Savers
   3. Image Viruses
   4. Virus Quiz 3
   5. Macro Virus
   6. Resident Virus
   7. Virus Quiz 4
   8. Script Viruses (VBA, VBS, JS)
   9. Stealth Viruses
   10. Virus Quiz 5
   11. Mail Bombs
   12. Backdoors and Rootkits
   13. Virus Quiz 6
4. Example Viruses
5. Anti-Virus Software

Macro Virus

We've already mentioned that some applications, like word processors and spreadsheets, can be programmed to change the way they work. To do this they store programs called Macros. Unfortunately these macros, as well as doing useful things like automatically formatting a document, can be used to attack your computer.

Because macros are stored in documents they sometimes seem to be less of a threat than other programs, but this is not really the case as they can do serious damage. You should never open documents if you are unsure of where they come from. Opening them allows any macro viruses to run and your computer to become infected.

One example of a macro virus is the Nimba worm which attacked systems in many different ways including via e-mail and back doors.

Next: Resident Virus