Facts and Myths about Computer Viruses
—Technology Training Center—

When dealing with computer viruses, it’s important to remember that they are software. That means:

• Viruses can do anything other software can do:
• Viruses can delete files.
• Viruses can format hard drives or scramble the data on them.
• Viruses could (in theory) communicate over a network.
• Viruses cannot do anything impossible for other software
• Viruses cannot damage your CPU.
• Viruses cannot physically destroy your hard disk, although they can scramble the data on them.
• Viruses cannot destroy your computer’s RAM.
• Viruses cannot cause your computer system to explode.

People intentionally write computer viruses, they do not appear spontaneously. They are not accidental mutations of “normal” software. (more…)