What is the difference between a repaired virus and a quarantined one?
A computer virus, like its biological counterpart, can spread quickly and infect normal files and documents with malicious material that can cause all kinds of problems, from garbling the data within to making the file impossible to open. Most anti-virus programs have the ability to fix infected files by neutralizing and removing the malevolent code and then returning the file to its uninfected state; this is typically called a repair. Many programs include a quarantine feature that allows them to automatically isolate any file that shows viruslike characteristics, based on the anti-virus program’s own database of such behavior. The quarantined files are kept in a kind of electronic holding pen, where they cannot be started or opened. You can usually view quarantined files and remove them from the quarantine area if you choose to do so. Your anti-virus program may also have the ability to send any suspect files to its maker’s research department for further examination. Although it may
