Computer viruses can have a costly effect on companies.
Damage from these viruses can erase information from the hard drive, causing the information to remain unrecoverable, said Pat Kemler, president of CompuSleuth. He added that while there are tools and techniques which can aid in recovering lost files, it is possible that not all lost data will be retrievable. Because virus attacks can come from a variety of sources, users need to be sensitive to what they are given he added. Kemmer also recommends downloading updated versions of anti-virus software through the manufacturer's Web site when possible. Another sign a computer has been infected is if your screen is blank, explained Kemmer.