Definition:

• virus protection guards a computer from being attacked by a virus
• virus: A virus is a small piece of software that piggybacks on real programs. For example, a virus might attach itself to a program such as a spreadsheet program. Each time the spreadsheet program runs, the virus runs, too, and it has the chance to reproduce (by attaching to other programs) or wreak havoc.
• protection: a defense or guard from attack
• This is very important for companies because if a virus enters one computer on a company network, it could easily spread to every computer on the network. For global companies like N&Q Investments, viruses are even more dangerous. This makes finding and using good virus protection VERY important.
  

Details:

• Viruses
• passes from computer to computer like a biological virus passes from person to person
• computer virus must piggyback on top of some other program or document in order to launch, but once it is running, it can infect other programs or documents
• people write computer viruses. Why?
• some get a thrill from it
• fascination with things like explosions and car wrecks (same psychology)
• bragging rights
• Email viruses--An e-mail virus travels as an attachment to e-mail messages, and usually replicates itself by automatically mailing itself to dozens of people in the victim's e-mail address book. Some e-mail viruses don't even require a double-click -- they launch when you view the infected message in the preview pane of your e-mail software
• Macro viruses--a computer virus that "infects" (not from Microsoft!) a Microsoft Word or similar application and causes a sequence of actions to be performed automatically when the application is started or something else triggers it
• Logic Bomb--a specially designed programming code (and a type of virus), which, when inserted intentionally, can execute nenver certian circumstances such as the laps of time
• Worm--a computer program (and a type of virus) that has the ability to copy itself from machine to machine, worms use up computer time and network bandwidth when they replicate, and often carry payloads that do considerable damage
• Virus protection
• also known as antivirus software
• uses filters to understand what is "allowed" and what is not
  
• Ways to Protect Your Computer
• install antivirus software
• run a UNIX operating system
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus6.htm
  
• Examples of antivirus software
• The Shield Deluxe 2008
• CA Antivirus
• BitDefender 2008
• Click here for more details
  

References:

• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htm
  
• http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/protect
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus1.htm
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus6.htm
• http://www.howstuffworks.com/framed.html
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus2.htm
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus3.htm
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus4.htm
• http://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus5.htm
  
• http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_gci214550,00.html
• http://whatis.techtarget.com/wsearchResults/0,,sid9,00.html?query=logic+bomb