Viruses have become so complicated and so advanced that over the years, they have managed to elude even the best efforts of antimalware programs and manufacturers at containing them. Of course, nothing is perfect in life and antivirus products are not meant to catch every single virus and malware that they come in contact with. Fortunately for us users, there are numerous antimalware applications that are sold in the market or offered in the Internet that you can choose from to tackle specific malware issues that you may have. However, there is one major caveat that comes with antimalware usage, one that the average user would fail to see; namely, that after doing its work and succeeding in removing the offending virus or malware, the antiviral product would often leave your PC or laptop in an unreliable state that would make it prone to crashing or ultimately fail. So you may ask yourself, "What things should I look out for and be wary about after I manage to take out the virus from my computer system?" Here are those seven reasons.
• The first reason is that most viruses are capable of escaping detection and stealth; they are devious because they are meant to be so. Such is the defining feature of the rootkit, which is a type of malware or virus that when introduced into computer or network systems would take over the administrator capabilities and in effect run the whole system. They can also do things such as permit the execution of secret files such as programmer accounts, modules and processes, access the system registry, capture information from associated terminals, keyboard touches, and networks, modify system preferences, spy on your computer activity, and others. So it is very important that you deal with this kind of virus right away.
• The second issue for you to consider is this; that by having the best antivirus solution installed in your computer does not guarantee you the best level of protection there is available. Indeed, the more costly and better-known brand names often perform poorly in terms of detecting and eliminating viruses and malware. Firms such as McAfee and Norton had distinguished themselves before by offering programs that did very well in identifying virus issues but has lately become complacent in flagging potentially more dangerous infections. Computer repair experts often encounter one out of five virus-compromised computers that have no antiviral program or solution installed, while at the same time also service two out of five virus-compromised computers that have either a McAfee or Norton program installed in them. To avoid that scenario, ignore the usual hype and do more careful research when choosing the right antivirus application for you to use.
• Third, antiviral or antimalware software is not the answer to any and all malware situation that you may encounter today. You will need to back up your antiviral program with other protective measures such as web browser-integrated security, spyware monitoring and removal, firewall protection, and better user knowledge.
• Fourth, never assume that once you have removed a specific virus or malware, you will never worry about it infecting your PC or laptop again. Some users have brought their PCs or laptops to have them repaired by computer experts only to see that the issue has been unresolved. Modern viruses have the capability to disguise themselves so that they escape attempts at removal and some can even initiate brand-new variants or copies that exist even before the original parent has been destroyed. The new virus will simply do what the old virus is programmed to do and you are left with the same problem or something even worse.
• The fifth reason for you to be wary about is that a majority of viruses and malware are specifically created to infect Window-operated computers. After you take out a virus, you may sometimes be unable to use your Internet Explorer browser and with this you will lose the capability to download important software and program updates. This will leave your computer vulnerable to infections caused by "security exploits" that occur because your computer is unable to access important updates that will protect it from hacking attempts and intrusions.
• Sixth, a virus or malware, even when removed, will leave your computer unable to run and set up software programs. Some malware are programmed to cause havoc at the.MSI installation file, which your Windows-operated computer will need to run and uninstall programs. They can also prevent executable commands, or those files that end in ".exe," from running and thus bar programs, including antiviral and antimalware software, from being set up in your computer.
• Last but not the least, after using an antiviral solution to eliminate a virus, you may find yourself unable to log in to the Web or your own local area network. This happens because that virus may have modified the network connection configuration of your PC or laptop such as its Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) settings, firewall features, proxy elements for your Internet browsers, host file and router features and others. It is also possible that you can only access your own home-based or local area network but not the Web itself.
By keeping in mind these seven causes, you will be more cautious the next time that you get to remove an offending virus infection from your computer. Your antivirus may have done its job all right, but you will soon find yourself with more difficult issues to tackle.
