How Anti-Virus Software Works and How it Affects You

Anti-virus software is designed to protect your computer's software from changes from the outside. It does this generally in one of two ways, or sometimes both. Whichever method is used, they generally have the same end-result.

• Upon initial installation, it may scan your system and makes its own internal list of the files on your computer. The list contains the names, sizes and dates (time stamps) of the files. It protects you by comparing the NEW file against the OLD one having the same names to determine if there's anything different. Naturally, a new file would at the very least have a newer date and in most cases, a different size. So the anti-virus software considers the "new" file to possibly contain a virus (whether it does or not) and won't allow the old one to be replaced with the new one.
   
• The second way anti-virus programs sometimes work also happens during initial installation. The program marks all the data files on your computer with a special file attribute, kind of like putting a little Post-It note on every file. Then if a new file having the same name comes along, it checks to see whether the special file attribute is "turned on" prior to letting the new file replace the old one. If the attribute is ON, it won't allow the old file to be replaced.
   
• Firewall software, such as Black-Ice can work in a similar manner to anti-virus software, but it often adds extra complexity by preventing specific users from changing or even using a specific file. Further, firewalls check the computer's address of the computer that's trying to get through to determine whether it should be allowed, and if not, it won't even let it connect. Typical problems that arise are users who say they "can't connect" to a certain computer.

Computer security is important, but it can be confusing at the least and extremely disruptive at the most. Because it is always an end user's responsibility to practice safe-computing habits, it also falls upon the end user to develop an understanding of how these products work, how to deactivate them when it's necessary to do so and how to reactivate them again afterward.

For example, when you try to update your software with your anti-virus software active, the anti-virus software kicks into action and generally prevents the update from taking affect. For this reason, you must ALWAYS deactivate it prior to updating your software, but don't forget to reactivate it after the update has been completed.

For more help on the specific anti-virus and/or firewall software you use, start it on your computer and click HELP - About. There is usually a web site or telephone number you can call for technical assistance.

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