Viruses

Just like a biological virus, they spread by inserting themselves into other programs or files and require human interaction (such as opening an infected file) to activate and begin replicating.Once a virus is activated, it can perform a variety of actions, from slowing down the system and displaying annoying messages to deleting important files, installing other malware, or opening backdoors to allow third parties access to the infected device.

The aims of viruses vary considerably depending on their design and the intentions of the cybercriminals behind them. In general, computer viruses are designed to:

• Disrupt the functioning of a computer or network, causing errors, crashes, or loss of information.
• Spy on users to obtain personal or financial data.
• Serve as a tool for blackmail or extortion, as is the case with ransomware attacks.
• Participate in botnets to launch massive spam campaigns or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
• Enable remote access to vulnerable systems without the user's knowledge.

Viruses often do not operate alone. They can work in conjunction with other types of malware to maximize the damage or the financial benefits for their creators.

Viruses require human intervention to spread. This may include common actions such as opening an infected email, downloading software from unofficial sites, or using contaminated USB drives. The main infection vectors include:

• Emails with malicious attachments or links. This was the case with the infamous ILOVEYOU virus, which tricked users into believing they had been sent a romantic message.
• Compromised or malicious websites, which install viruses by exploiting browser vulnerabilities.
• Pirated software or video game downloads from unofficial sources, which can hide threats such as adware or Trojans. This practice is especially common among younger people.
• Social media or content-sharing platforms such as YouTube, where cybercriminals post seemingly legitimate links that actually redirect to infected websites.
• Plug-ins or CMS systems such as WordPress, where unpatched vulnerabilities can allow the injection of malicious code, as happened with the Popup Builder plug-in attack that compromised more than 9,000 websites.

Although in everyday parlance we tend to refer to ‘viruses’, in the world of cybersecurity, it is important to distinguish between different types of threats. Within the group of viruses themselves, there are several types:

Resident viruses

These load into a system's memory and remain active to infect new files as they are used.

Direct-action viruses

These act immediately after being run, infecting files in the same directory or location.

Macro viruses

These are especially common in Microsoft Office documents and take advantage of the program's automated functions to run malicious code.

Worms

Although they do not attach themselves to files in the same way as viruses, worms spread on their own through networks or connected devices, generating massive traffic and crashing systems.

Trojans

These masquerade as harmless software but, in reality, trojans enable remote access to a system or data theft.

Polymorphic viruses

Their code changes each time they replicate in order to evade traditional antivirus software.

Protecting yourself from viruses is possible, as long as you take a proactive attitude. These are some of the good practices recommended by Panda Security:

• Install a comprehensive security solution, such as Panda Dome, which provides real-time protection, cloud-based scanning, and proactive threat detection.
• Keep your operating system and other programs up to date. This includes plug-ins, browsers, and CMS platforms such as WordPress.
• Don’t open suspicious emails, especially if they contain attachments or links.
• Don’t download software from unofficial sources or P2P file-sharing sites.
• Make regular backup copies, which will allow you to restore your system in the event of a severe infection.

If you suspect your computer or mobile device is infected with a virus, the first step is to act quickly. Here's a basic guide on what to do:

1. Disconnect your device from the Internet to prevent the infection spreading further or an attacker gaining remote access.
2. Run a full scan with your antivirus. You can use specialized Panda Security tools to remove specific threats.
3. Manually scan your system for unknown applications or unusual processes.
4. Restore files from backup copies if the infection has damaged important documents.
5. Change all your passwords, especially if you think the virus might have captured them using a keylogger.
6. Contact your security provider's technical support services. Panda Security Support.