Threats gain access to your system using various access points.
Access point | Description |
|---|---|
Macros | As part of word-processing documents and spreadsheet applications. |
Executable files | Seemingly benign programs can include viruses with the expected program. Some common file extensions are .EXE, .COM, .VBS, .BAT, .HLP and .DLL. |
Scripts | Associated with webpages and email, scripts such as ActiveX and JavaScript, if allowed to run, can include viruses. |
Internet Relay Chat (IRC) messages | Files sent with these messages can easily contain malware as part of the message. For example, automatic startup processes can contain worms and trojan threats. |
Browser and application Help files | Downloading these Help files exposes the system to embedded viruses and executables. |
Jokes, games, and images as part of email messages with attachments. | |
Combinations of all these access points | Sophisticated malware creators combine all these delivery methods and even embed one piece of malware in another to try to access the system. |