Understanding the Different Levels of a PC Virus
Viruses become a common thing in the Internet. But it should not be a common thing in your computer. Computer viruses behave the same as health viruses. They start small, propagate, and invade the body causing it to cripple and unable to perform well.
Microsoft is constantly updating its operating system software to make it virus free. But even computer virus evolves. It is keeping up with the times and the numerous security updates. It keeps on looking for holes where it can break into.
PC Virus threats are classified into different levels. These levels are standard and are followed by the major anti-virus software manufacturer. To understand what the different virus levels are, read on:
1. Critical Level. Critical level means the worm or the virus has the ability to create damage worldwide. It can easily spread globally and cannot be contained in an instant. This also means that the virus is widespread and that it can target everyone, including common home computer users. Malware and spyware are good examples of these.
2. Severe Level. A virus alert is tagged severe if the worm can target both patched and unpatched computer systems. It is also worldwide in nature, and has the potential to spread rampantly and swiftly, but has not done so just yet.
3. Elevated Level. This level alert is given out when a worm or a virus has the ability to spread globally and attack both patch and unpatched systems. But the virus cannot penetrate or propagate by itself. User intervention is usually needed.
4. Low Level. With a low alert level, there is no direct danger to systems that were successfully patched. The virus, malware, or spyware under this alert are in a controlled level and there are new activity reported.
These are the four personal computer virus threat levels. Your anti-virus software can use any one of these alert levels when they post new updates about recently discovered viruses and spyware.
So the next time you inspect the virus bulletin from your mail or from the anti-virus website itself, try to check out the PC virus level first. That alone will give you a faint idea as to how worse the situation can be.
But the bottom line is that viruses, whatever their alert level maybe should be given absolute attention. Do not take viruses for granted. Remember that a single one of them penetrating your computer system will cause it to crash.