COMPUTER VIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Computer viruses are malicious software programs that are designed to infect and infiltrate computer systems, compromising their normal functions without the user's consent or knowledge. Like biological viruses, they spread rapidly from one computer to another, often across networks or through infected email attachments or downloaded files.
Computer viruses are created with the intention of causing damage, stealing personal information, or gaining unauthorized access to computer systems. They can corrupt or delete files, slow down computer performance, disrupt network connections, or even render a computer system completely inoperable. Some viruses may also have the ability to replicate and distribute themselves to other systems, furthering their reach and impact.
To infect a computer, viruses often disguise themselves as legitimate files or programs, making it difficult for users to identify their presence. Once activated, they initiate various malicious activities, such as modifying system settings, altering or deleting files, or allowing unauthorized individuals to gain control over the infected computer.
Computer viruses can be classified into different categories based on their behavior and features, such as macro viruses, file infectors, boot sector viruses, or polymorphic viruses. Antivirus software programs are commonly used to detect, prevent, and remove computer viruses from infected systems. Regular software updates and the practice of safe browsing habits, such as not downloading unknown files or opening suspicious email attachments, can significantly reduce the risk of computer virus infections.
Common Misspellings for COMPUTER VIRUSES
- xomputer viruses
- vomputer viruses
- fomputer viruses
- domputer viruses
- cimputer viruses
- ckmputer viruses
- clmputer viruses
- cpmputer viruses
- c0mputer viruses
- c9mputer viruses
- conputer viruses
- cokputer viruses
- cojputer viruses
- comouter viruses
- comluter viruses
- com-uter viruses
- com0uter viruses
- compyter viruses
- comphter viruses
- compjter viruses
Etymology of COMPUTER VIRUSES
The word "computer viruses" has an interesting etymology. The term "virus" was first used in 1949 by the mathematician John von Neumann to describe a self-replicating program. However, the concept of a computer virus as we know it today was developed in the 1970s by researchers at Bell Labs and Xerox PARC. They used the term "virus" to metaphorically compare the spreading of malicious code to the way a biological virus infects and replicates in living organisms.
The first documented case of a computer virus dates back to 1971, when a program called "Creeper" was created by Bob Thomas. It was an experimental self-replicating program that would display the message "I'm the creeper, catch me if you can"! on infected machines.
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