A computer virus is a program which attaches itself to, overwrites or otherwise replaces another program in order to reproduce itself without the knowledge of the PC user.

Some viruses are programmed to damage the computer by damaging programs, deleting files, or reformatting the hard disk. Others are not designed to do any damage, but replicate themselves and may make their presence known by presenting text, video, or audio messages. Even these viruses can create problems for the computer user. They typically take up computer memory used by legitimate programs. As a result, they often cause erratic behavior and can result in system crashes. In addition, many viruses are bug-ridden, and these bugs may lead to system crashes and data loss.^[1]

Viruses can infect your computer from many different sources. Downloads, floppies, and CDs can all infect your computer if you run a program that has already been previously infected. Some can even crawl through the internet and try to infect your computer. That’s why it’s important to have protection.

Viruses and Business Manager

As a Barclays Business Manager customer you will have an internet connection which means that if not protected you could be vulnerable to the receipt of viruses. Furthermore, important and confidential material may be stored on your computer. Therefore, it is recommended that you have some kind of anti-virus software installed on your PC.

There are many anti-virus programs out there that one can use. Some are free and some are subscription based or can be purchased. Some of the most common commercial versions are Norton Anti-virus, McAfee.

Choosing the right anti-virus program depends on your budget and how technical you are. If you are experiencing technical difficulties and have gone through the rest of the connection checklist, scanning your computer for viruses is an important final step, before contacting customer support.

http://www.symantec.com/downloads/index.jsp

 ^{[1]www.wikipedia.org}