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A critical evaluation of the destructive impact of computer viruses on files stored by personal computer users
Author(s)
Weideman, Melius
Date Issued
1994
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Technikon
Abstract
Computer virus programs are generally perceived to be a
threat to the information stored by computer users. This
research evaluated the impact computer viruses have on
information stored by computer users. The emphasis was on
the effects of computer viruses rather than on the detail of
their operation. The main hypotheses involved the question
of whether or not computer viruses do pose a threat to the
information stored by computer users.
The effect of computer viruses on the information of users
in industry was measured by sending a questionnaire to 388
companies country-wide. &~ average of 2l,5% of the
respondents claimed detrimental effects to information
stored on disk due to computer viruses. This and other data
was used to guide laboratory experiments on the actual
damage done by computer viruses to stored information.
A set of test disks was prepared to represent programs and
data of a typical PC user in industry. Fifteen different
virus programs were used individually to infect the test
disks. After each infection, all the test disks were
inspected to ascertain damage to data, system and program
files as well as to separate disk sectors. The research established that:
The damage done by computer viruses to stored
information is generally limited to one file or disk
area.
Where damage to stored information did occur, it was
often reversible.
Irrational user responses to virus symptoms provide a
large potential source for damage to stored
information.
The availability of master program disks (for program
file restoration) and recent, validated data backup is
essential to recovery from a computer virus infection.
A user can solve most problems caused by virus
infections if he has a basic understanding of disk
structure, i.e. tracks, sectors, sides, the FAT, etc,
and of the use of disk utility programs like Norton
Utilities or PCTools.
The fact that some of the findings of prominent virus
researchers could not be verified, suggests that virus
programs could be unstable.
Claims regarding the damage inflicted by viruses must
be considered to be valid only for a specific copy of
the virus under discussion. The importance of using original application software (to
minimize the transfer of viruses and to enable program file
restoration) , regular back-ups (to enable data file
restoration) and basic user awareness (infection prevention,
symptoms, the use of anti-viral and utility programs, etc.)
was emphasized.
The average PC user should be able to clear up a virus
infection without assistance by following the given
disinfection procedure. Suggestions for further study
include virus origins, generations, mutations, multiple
infections, and the effect of viruses on computer networks.
threat to the information stored by computer users. This
research evaluated the impact computer viruses have on
information stored by computer users. The emphasis was on
the effects of computer viruses rather than on the detail of
their operation. The main hypotheses involved the question
of whether or not computer viruses do pose a threat to the
information stored by computer users.
The effect of computer viruses on the information of users
in industry was measured by sending a questionnaire to 388
companies country-wide. &~ average of 2l,5% of the
respondents claimed detrimental effects to information
stored on disk due to computer viruses. This and other data
was used to guide laboratory experiments on the actual
damage done by computer viruses to stored information.
A set of test disks was prepared to represent programs and
data of a typical PC user in industry. Fifteen different
virus programs were used individually to infect the test
disks. After each infection, all the test disks were
inspected to ascertain damage to data, system and program
files as well as to separate disk sectors. The research established that:
The damage done by computer viruses to stored
information is generally limited to one file or disk
area.
Where damage to stored information did occur, it was
often reversible.
Irrational user responses to virus symptoms provide a
large potential source for damage to stored
information.
The availability of master program disks (for program
file restoration) and recent, validated data backup is
essential to recovery from a computer virus infection.
A user can solve most problems caused by virus
infections if he has a basic understanding of disk
structure, i.e. tracks, sectors, sides, the FAT, etc,
and of the use of disk utility programs like Norton
Utilities or PCTools.
The fact that some of the findings of prominent virus
researchers could not be verified, suggests that virus
programs could be unstable.
Claims regarding the damage inflicted by viruses must
be considered to be valid only for a specific copy of
the virus under discussion. The importance of using original application software (to
minimize the transfer of viruses and to enable program file
restoration) , regular back-ups (to enable data file
restoration) and basic user awareness (infection prevention,
symptoms, the use of anti-viral and utility programs, etc.)
was emphasized.
The average PC user should be able to clear up a virus
infection without assistance by following the given
disinfection procedure. Suggestions for further study
include virus origins, generations, mutations, multiple
infections, and the effect of viruses on computer networks.
Additional information
Thesis (Masters Diploma (Information Technology))--Cape Technikon, Cape Town, 1994
Subjects
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