What is a Virus ?

In MS Word, the macros are keystrokes that are embedded in the documents or saved sequences for commands.

The macro viruses are designed to add their malicious code to the genuine macro sequences in a Word file.

However, as the years went by, Microsoft Word witnessed disabling of macros by default in more recent versions.

Thus, the cybercriminals started to use social engineering schemes to target users. In the process, they trick the user and enable macros to launch the virus.

Since macro viruses are making a come back in the recent years, Microsoft quickly retaliated by adding a new feature in Office 2016.

The feature enables security managers to selectively enable macro use. As a matter of fact,

it can be enabled for trusted workflows and blocked if required across the organization.

The virus design purpose tends to vary and Overwrite Viruses are predominantly designed to destroy a file or application’s data. As the name says it all, the virus after attacking the computer starts overwriting files with its own code. Not to be taken lightly, these viruses are more capable of targeting specific files or applications or systematically overwrite all files on an infected device.

On the flipside, the overwrite virus is capable of installing a new code in the files or applications which programs them to spread the virus to additional files, applications, and systems.

More and more cybercriminals are depending on the polymorphic virus. It is a malware type which has the ability to change or mutate its underlying code without changing its basic functions or features.

This helps the virus on a computer or network to evade detection from many antimalware and threat detection products.

Since virus removal programs depend on identifying signatures of malware, these viruses are carefully designed to escape detection and identification.

When a security software detects a polymorphic virus, the virus modifies itself thereby, it is no longer detectable using the previous signature.

The Resident virus implants itself in the memory of a computer. Basically, the original virus program is not required to infect new files or applications.

Even when the original virus is deleted, the version stored in memory can be activated.

This happens when the computer OS loads certain applications or functions. The resident viruses are troublesome due to the reason they can run unnoticed by antivirus and antimalware software by hiding in the system’s RAM.

The rootkit virus is a malware type which secretly installs an illegal rootkit on an infected system. This opens the door for attackers and gives them full control of the system.

The attacker will be able to fundamentally modify or disable functions and programs.

Like other sophisticated viruses, the rootkit virus is also created to bypass antivirus software. The latest versions of major antivirus and antimalware programs include rootkit scanning.

The Boot-record Infectors infect executable code found in specific system areas on a disk. As the name implies,

Take caution when opening graphics and media attachments, as viruses can be disguised as such files.

Maintain several independent email accounts. If a virus infects your only business email address, you’ll be in trouble. Also, keep backups of your most important email and files separately.

If any valid message headers of a virus-email indicate what server the message was sent from, contact the service in question and file a formal complaint.

Do not open an email attachment unless you were expecting it and know whom it’s from.

Do not open any unsolicited executable files, documents, spreadsheets, etc.