Does it matter what software I use with my scanner?
        No. You can use any popular scanning application that allows you to select a TWAIN-compliant device. TWAIN (Technology Without An Interesting Name) is the software that allows a scanning application to communicate with a scanner.

Can a computer virus activate itself on my system?
        No, you must run an executable file or a macro because that is what the viral code attaches itself to. Data files, such as Word documents and Excel spreadsheets, cannot carry a virus, but a macro within them can. A macro is different from data because it is an automated sequence of steps. In this regard, a macro is similar to a program. A computer’s operating system, such as Windows, executes a program; an application, such as Word, executes a macro. Thus, you have the possibility to open a macro virus in a document you opened out of your e-mail.

What are the main types of viruses?
        There are about six main types of viruses. The common or file infection virus attaches itself to an EXE or COM file. When you run the infected program, this action releases the virus into your system. The virus loads itself into memory and infects the next uninfected file. In this way, the virus infects program file after program file on your computer.
        Another virus type is the boot sector. (A boot sector is that portion of a hard drive that the computer reads on startup) After a predetermined number of boots, a boot sector virus destroys your system. The destruction takes the form of rewriting the boot sector or corruption of the file allocation table (FAT). The FAT tells your computer where files and programs are stored on the computer’s hard drive.
        The multiparte virus is also a common virus. It infects programs or your boot sector. This type of virus can be one of the most difficult viruses to clean up if not done properly. Another main type of virus is the stealth virus. It is designed to defeat antivirus software.
        Macro viruses have been around since 1995, and they have surpassed the older viruses in new variants and the speed and width of their infection.
        The last main type of virus is the polymorphic virus. These viruses use an encryption technology that allows them to change their appearance with each infection, making it harder for antivirus software to find them.

Are there other types of dangerous programs?
        There are also Trojan Horses, logic bombs, and worms. A Trojan Horse is usually a malicious destructive program hidden inside another seemingly useful program. They are not self-replicating and rely on unsuspecting users to spread them because a Trojan Horse cannot copy itself to another system. Logic bombs are malicious and designed to activate, that is to "go off" at a predetermined initiator or trigger. The trigger can be a date, a user logon id, or almost anything. They are not self-replicating and are loaded into a system deliberately. A worm is not destructive. Instead, it is used to infiltrate a computer system. Worms differ from viral code in that worms are standalone programs that do not need to infect another program to gain access to your system.

Can viruses steal information from my computer?
        Not generally, but some, such as the Melissa virus, can. Programs such as Spyware can steal information, too. Spyware is a worm that will take data from your computer. It looks for information such as people you e-mail, your Social Security Number, date of birth, and telephone number. It will e-mail this information to some other computer.

Higher drive ratings equal faster data transfer rates.