Viruses

Sorority rush here at Miami is notoriously known for the spread of viruses it provides since all the rushers and rushees are bringing strands of virus from all corners of the country back to Oxford. This year, as I found myself shaking countless hands I was battling another kind of virus…. and it wasn’t the kind that leaves you standing in line at the health center for hours on end. Instead, the line at IT services. A virus, which called itself "antivirus 2009," downloaded itself onto my computer acting as if it was a virus scanner and alerted me of bogus viruses on my computer then offering me a chance to buy software that would rid those viruses. Being the frugal person that I am, I ignored these "infections" thinking the free virus scanners already on my computer would do their job. But after days of the bogus virus alerts wrecking havoc, flooding my screen until my computer froze, and causing a near crash, I knew something was up with this "antivirus 2009". The thought of my year-and-a-half old computer crashing right before the start of a new semester and the money it would take to replace it left me in tears. Thankfully, with the limited Internet access the virus would allow, I was able to download a scanner that booted the virus into my recycling bin and off my computer where it belongs. Fast forward a week or two and I cannot go on a news website without seeing an article about a computer virus running rampant all over the world. It is likely the same one that I had, however the article clearing states in the title that this virus is a "dud." I suppose that is good to hear. Maybe my passwords and usernames weren't stolen, but I still see some after effects of the virus on my computer even though I now do daily scans to rid of anything I may pick up here or there. My Firefox browser runs extremely slow, is accompanied by random pop-ups, and tends to freeze up, while my Internet Explorer browser works like a charm. I have even tried deleting Firefox and reintalling it but so far have had no success in fixing the problem. Its quite ironic that viruses have that name, because they are about as convient and wanted as a regular virus. And through all of the headaches "antivirus 2009" has caused me I can't help but wonder: Why?! Who sits down and thinks creating a virus that will crash computers all over the world will be fun and a good use of their time? Will there be a point when the Internet/servers/etc. self-destruct because of a supervirus? I hope like some diseases, computer viruses can be eradicated.