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Protect Your Computer - Beware of Dangerous File Extensions - Part 2

Some spywares are designed to do similar function as what legitimate applications do and harvest information from an infected computer. BAT and COM extensions are mostly used by worms to automate their process instead of waiting for end users to trigger them. Damaging files extensions are usually accompanied by the Autorun.inf file that contains information of objects that need to run automatically. Autorun.inf is a hidden file that is used to trigger other applications that can do the actual damage. Windows will be searching for Autorun.inf files every time a new storage device is mounted on a system.

Malicious programs are usually designed to infect PC systems. Because of the increasing market share of Windows family of operating systems, computer enthusiasts are always challenged to find flaws and vulnerabilities on these systems. They exploit Windows systems and launch devastating attacks. The funny thing about it is that most of these programs are written on products that Microsoft itself developed and popularized. This includes the Visual Basic Script which was used for authoring hundreds of viruses and worms.

EXE files on the other hand are executable files used to launch the main interface of an application. When you use Microsoft Word to type a document, you open it by clicking the Microsoft Word shortcut that triggers the WINWORD.EXE file. These are computer applications that are needed for a computer to perform its basic functions.

Continue reading: third part of the "Protect Your Computer - Beware of Dangerous File Extensions" article