CH 9: Threats to Your Digital Life

2) What is a virus? A computer virus is a computer program that appears to be something useful or desirable (like a game or a screensaver), but at the same time does something malicious in the background without your knowledge, such as destroying your files. A computer virus is a computer program that looks at packets as they travel on the Internet and infects them with debilitating code. A computer virus is a computer program that attaches itself to another computer program and attempts to spread itself to other computers when files are exchanged. A computer virus is a computer program deployed by hackers that looks at each packet as it travels on the Internet.

A computer virus is a computer program that attaches itself to another computer program and attempts to spread itself to other computers when files are exchanged.

4) What should users do if they get a popup threatening them that their system is at risk and that they need to buy a particular product to ensure its protection? They should follow the instructions they ​read ​right away to make their system secure. Close the popup and make sure your operating system and anti-virus software are up to date. Scan your entire system for viruses. Check your email to ​​determine ​if the company has contacted you and follow the instructions in the email. Change your credit cards to protect yourself.

Close the popup and make sure your operating system and anti-virus software are up to date. Scan your entire system for viruses.

1) If a Microsoft Excel file is all garbled, could it have a virus? It definitely has a virus. The user needs to run antivirus software. It could be a virus, but it could also be another problem, such as a corrupt file. The Excel application itself is corrupt. If the Excel file can't open in a previous version of Excel, it is a virus.

It could be a virus, but it could also be another problem, such as a corrupt file.

5) Is it safe to ​​select​ ​links that come in email from companies you know? Yes—if you recognize the logo then you can go ahead and ​​select​ ​links inside the email safely. As long as you know that you are a customer of that company, it is safe to follow links in their emails to you. No, it is not safe. It is a better practice to go to the website yourself and login there. Email systems have filters, so any email you get is safe to read and to use the links inside it.

No, it is not safe. It is a better practice to go to the website yourself and login there.

3) Is a virus the only way cyber criminals can steal a person's identity? Yes, so if a person is careful about using and updating his or her anti-virus software, he or she doesn't have to worry. No—you can also catch a virus during denial of service attacks. One way you risk identity theft is if you block pop-up windows. No, you need to protect yourself in many situations, such as when you use public Wi-Fi, when you respond to email and you should also have a strong anti-virus program installed and updated.

No, you need to protect yourself in many situations, such as when you use public Wi-Fi, when you respond to email and you should also have a strong anti-virus program installed and updated.