As computers have evolved over decades getting smaller, faster and more advanced, so have the viruses designed to infect, corrupt and even destroy them. The latest virus known as Downadup or Conficker has already affected 9 million computers around the world. China, Russia, Brazil and India are the worst affected countries but the low security networks and the growing use of USB sticks in multiple computers means the virus could spread further and wider and fast. It’already swept trough thousands of offices in the USA and even infecting computers of UK’s Ministry of Defence. The virus is spreading faster than any virus ever before. It is getting momentum and nobody knows when that momentum is going to stop, and at what point the hackers are going to start to use it.
Traditionally viruses are spread trough e-mails, open the wrong attachment and you get infected.
This is a virus with a twist as it hides in the operating system itself, Once in the computer it targets Windows operating system and embeds it self as the part of it, allowing the hacker to put more malicious programs in to the infected system. It basically opens the door allowing other bits of software such as key loggers to be remotely installed on the system.
At this stage it is almost impossible to say what is the purpose of this virus. It can be used in many malicious ways that could halt the entire networks.
Without the appropriate antivirus software you are vulnerable to a virus attack. So if you do not have one do install it as soon as possible and more importantly always keep it updated.

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