Quiz: Viruses, part 1

Everyone has heard about computer viruses, the malicious software that can appear unexpectedly on your computer in many different forms. Their effects can range from mildly annoying to downright destructive. But with a little knowledge and a bit of forethought, you can reduce the likelihood of a virus infecting your computer. Take this quiz and find out just how virus-savvy you are.

1. What can a computer virus do?

A. Change how your computer operates
B. Send fraudulent e-mail to and from your computer
C. Cause your computer to crash and restart every few minutes
D. Any of the above

2. When you get an unexpected attachment in an e-mail from someone that you know, you should:

A. Open the attachment and then save it to your hard disk.
B. Open the attachment, but if it has a virus, close it immediately.
C. Send a separate e-mail to the sender to verify that the person really intended to send it before you open the attachment.
D. Respond to the e-mail, asking what the attachment contains.

3. If a virus has infected your computer, which of the following tools may help you get rid of it? (Choose the best answer.)

A. An Internet firewall and antivirus software
B. The Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool and antivirus software
C. The Microsoft Benign Software Addition Tool and Windows AntiSpyware (Beta)
D. Automatic Microsoft Windows Updates and User Tools

4. Instant messaging (IM) is a great way to chat with friends online without having to worry about viruses.

A. True
B. False

5. A virus can damage which of the following?

A. Internet connectivity
B. Software
C. Hardware
D. All of the above

6. After you install anti-virus software on your computer, you don’t have to worry about a virus attack on your computer.

A. True
B. False