A virus is a destructive program that attaches itself to files. These are then "infected." When you run an "infected" program, the virus will adversely affect the performance of your PC, display strange messages or graphics on your monitor, or destroy data on your PC.

Unfortunately, some of the files and programs that are on the Internet and World Wide Web are infected with viruses. If you don't protect yourself, you could be asking for trouble.

Your best protection is to purchase an antivirus program which scans for viruses. If it finds one it will remove it from you floppy or hard disks. You can purchase this software at your favorite computer store, or download it from the World Wide Web.

Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So if you plan to do a lot of downloading, invest in an antivirus program.