Computers Playing Copycat

Computers Playing Copycat

(1) Image of someone being a copycat

Has one your friends ever copied everything you have said and done for a moment to be funny? Only for the copycat to realize that the game they are playing actually annoys more people than it entertains. This game of copycat works just like computer viruses. It all starts with fun and games and eventually turns into one of the biggest problems of the 2000's. Viruses started as a prank that a gamer wanted to play on his friends(3).The program was called the “Elk Cloner” and it was made by Richard Skrenta as a practical joke. It was placed on a game disc and upon the disks 50^th use a poem would appear about the Elk Cloner along with a poem about how the virus had a personality. This virus would spark a surge in people making viruses with the intention of messing with other computer users in some way or another without the owner even realizing what is going on.

So you may be wondering to yourself how does a virus work? Well viruses work in a similar way that copycats work, the virus will just keep copying itself in the background of your computer to slow it down. Since computers just do what the users tell them to do, programmers attach viruses to popular programs like Microsoft Word so when the user opens the program the virus will run in the background(4). Since the virus is not visible without searching for it the virus can duplicate itself creating several programs that will all run without you knowing. This ultimately slows the computer down and allows the controller of the virus to use it for what ever purpose they have in mind. Most viruses are used to sent out spam email to various destinations however there are viruses that can look through computers information to steal peoples private information.

(2) Some popular antivirus programs

With the growing virus epidemic across the Internet it was time to combat the viruses. Programs like Avast and Norton are two anti-virus programs that will stop you from downloading any suspicious software. These programs just search through all the files and programs that your computer has and looks for these hidden viruses. When they locate anything on your computer that is suspicious or abnormal it will advise that you remove it from the computer or look into what the file is. Since viruses are constantly changing and evolving, the programs that detect them must also change and update to keep on top of the current viruses being spread.

Since there is an easy way to combat the viruses it is not worth getting work up about. While users are advised to use the Internet with caution anti-virus software is a good way to make sure that all your bases are covered in case the situation gets out of hand. Even when downloading products from companies it is very important that you make sure you are downloading what you think you are downloading in case you get tricked into giving yourself a virus.The anti-virus software usually suggests to scan your computer once every two weeks or so just to make sure your computer runs as swiftly as possible.

Just like the friend you had who copied you to be funny,computer viruses are annoying and sometimes maddening. There are things that you can do to ease or even get rid of the annoyance with relative ease. After all the person copying you was your friend right? Just like your friend, your computer, is still a great part of your life. Just because it can get a few bugs doesn't mean that aren't worth having.


References

(1) How to Deal with a Copycat Friend. (2011, July 12). http://www.29secrets.com/relationships/how-deal-copycat-friend

(2) Antivirus companies say their products no longer work. (2013, January 4). http://www.epyk.com/41/antivirus-companies-say-their-products-no-longer-work

(3) Jesdanun, A. (2007, September 1). School prank starts 25 years of security woes. Retrieved March 30, 2015, from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/20534084/#.VRil4fnF90Z

(4) Russell, D., & Gangemi, G. (1991). Computer security basics ([Rev. ed., p. 86). Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates.