Computer viruses are software programs deliberately designed to interfere with computer operation, record, corrupt, or delete data, or spread themselves to other computers and throughout the Internet, often slowing things down and causing other problems in the process. Just as human viruses range in severity, computer viruses range from the mildly annoying to the downright destructive, and come in new and different forms.

What is most important is that you keep your computer current with the latest updates and antivirus tools, stay current about recent threats, and that you follow a few basic rules when surfing the Internet, downloading files, and opening attachments. Once a virus is on your computer, its type or the method it used to get there is not as critical as removing it and preventing further infection.