Introduction

Directions

Virus Info

Cyber Bullying Info

Activity

Virus: A virus is a computer program that spreads itself by infecting files. Viruses are dangerous and can shut your computer down. While there are many ways to get a virus, the most common is through downloading e-mail attachments.
Here are some things you can do to keep your own computer safe and to keep it from threatening other computers.

1. Install virus protection software on your computer and USE it.
2. Don’t open e-mails if you don’t know who they are from.
3. Avoid forwarded “FW:” e-mail; e-mail with attachments containing the suffix of “.exe,” “.scr,” or “.vbs.”
4. If you do want to open an attachment, scan it through the virus software first. To do this, save all attachments before opening them.
Remember - sometimes even your friends can pass on viruses unintentionally.

There are consequences for creating or spreading a virus. You can be prosecuted as a criminal.

Malicious Code: Malicious code, is a computer program code which was written with the intent to harm, destroy, or annoy. Viruses are malicious code. They attach to e-mail and carry out their programming which causes problems and money.

Worms are also malicious code. Worms work through networks. They travel through shared files and programs and can bring down an entire system.

Trojan horses are another type of malicious code. These are programs that claim to do one thing but actually do another when downloaded. For example, you download a game but instead the program wipes your hard drive.

Spam: any kind of unsolicited (you didn't ask for it to be sent to you) mass mailing

File extensions: identifies the purpose of a file
    .doc = Microsoft Word document
    .xls  = Microsoft Excel spreadsheet
    .ppt  = Microsoft PowerPoint presentation
    .txt   = plain text document
    .htm or .html = web page document

    .exe = executable file (installs a program on the computer; can carry a virus)
    .scr = script file (can carry a virus)
    .vbs = Visual Basic file (can carry a virus)

Attachment: file attached to an email

Steganography: the process of embedding or hiding messages in other files, such as photos, documents or music

Hacking: the process of breaking into someone's computer without consent; this is a crime