A boot sector is defined as the first thing that a basic input or output system loads as soon as the computer is switched on. It is divided into volume boot record (VBR) and master boot record (MBR). A boot sector virus is a kind of computer virus which infects the storage device’s (MBR) master boot record. These viruses are primarily spread through physical media in maximum cases.
Whenever an infected USB drive or floppy disk is connected to the machine, it transfers as soon as the volume boot record is read. It is likely to either replace or modify the prevalent boot code. When the user attempts to boot their PC the next time, this virus is fast loaded and runs as a part of the master boot record.
Email attachments may also be comprised of a boot virus code. When the user opens them, it infects the host machine and may comprise instructions for sending out many more emails to the contact list of the user. There have been improvements with Basic Input Output System architecture which has lowered the spreading of boot viruses. There is an option for preventing modifications to the first sector of a PC’s hard drive. Removal of a boot sector virus from a computer can be quite a challenging task as it tends to encrypt this boot sector. In several cases, the user may be unaware that their system is infected with a virus prior to running an antimalware scan or antivirus protection program. This is why it’s important to perform continuous scans with software like spyhunter 4 antimalware software to help protect your system against malware.
When infected, the user should immediately run a security scan, remove significant files or also shut down infected computer. One cannot start the virus removal procedure if it has infected the RAM of the computer. They can take this hard disk drive to a professional to fix up. After unplugging the computer and monitor, the HDD should be removed from the infected computer. Using software with a floppy or CD ROM can be done to scan this drive for fixing the MBR. The user can start off with the OS install CD and utilize the option of the Windows Recovery Console if using Windows XP.
For altering the boot order, the user can insert Basic Input Output System through the proper start up key in their computer. As soon as the BIOS setup page is showing, set up the floppy drive or CD to boot first. The user may try to locate the company which has manufactured his HDD and find out if they have a utility which may do a lower level format. It is important for users to depend on consistently updated antimalware safeguarding programs. It should have a massive definition database of the current boot viruses along with data required to remove them safely. This is the simplest and most effective way to remove a virus threat.
Boot sectors are mostly present on storage media like DVDs, CDs, floppies and hard drives. It is not possible for any computer to load an OS with no boot sector. In the present times, these viruses have turned rare owing to the decline in floppy disk usage. The operating systems in the present scenario have filters and other safeguards to prevent this infection.
