We rely on our computers for everything. We keep important information about them and blindly believe that we are safe. We are so dependent on them that we cannot manage our daily lives without them. It's terrifying to think that with a few simple lines of code anyone can create a virus capable of erasing our entire digital life. It is essential to understand how viruses work to better protect yourself from them. Similar to its biological namesake, a virus is a small program designed to harm a computer. A virus is a type of malware program. This means that it is a software program used to disrupt computer operations, collect sensitive information, or gain access to private computer systems (Microsoft). Viruses can generally spread on their own. They are designed to install and then self-replicate without any user input. When a virus replicates, it places copies in programs and files on your computer. These programs and files are said to be “infected”. Symptoms of a virus can range from computer slowdown to complete system failure. Most viruses often perform some type of malicious activity on infected hosts, such as taking up hard disk space, slowing down the central processing unit, deleting files, accessing private information, corrupting data, or spamming contacts (Brainpop). Viruses cannot create themselves. They need to be written and tested to ensure they spread properly. People create viruses for many reasons. Some viruses are created just out of curiosity. They may have no harmful effects and are made for educational purposes only. Some people create them to feel emotions. They enjoy watching their virus wreak havoc on their victim's computer. Another reason is for the hacker to make money. Trojans… half of paper… The downside of using a firewall is that the user cannot scan programs and files for malicious software. Additionally, updates to firewalls to protect against new, more complex viruses are rarely available because antivirus software is the recommended method of protection. Viruses are simple but deadly. They disguise themselves and spread without any education. They can email each other or travel over a shared Internet connection. They are hidden from their victims as they slowly devour their computers. They are capable of compromising entire computer networks. With all of our personal information saved on computers, it is vital to keep it safe. Antivirus software is a wonderful tool that should be installed on every computer. Viruses can be destructive but if we can understand how they work, we will be better able to protect ourselves from them.