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A computer
virus is a
computer program that can
copy itself and infect a computer without the permission or knowledge of
the owner. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer
to other types of
malware,
adware, and
spyware programs that do
not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can only spread from one
computer to another (in some form of executable
code) when its host is
taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a
network or the Internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a
floppy disk,
CD,
DVD, or
USB drive. Viruses can
increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files
on a
network file system or a
file system that is accessed by another computer.[1]
[2]
The term
"computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all
types of
malware. Malware includes
computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest
adware, crimeware, and other malicious and unwanted software), including
true viruses. Viruses are sometimes confused with
computer worms and
Trojan horses, which are
technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to
spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part
of a host, and a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but has a
hidden agenda. Worms and Trojans, like viruses, may cause harm to a
computer system's hosted data, functional performance, or networking
throughput, when they are executed. Some viruses and other malware have
symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious.
Most
personal computers are now connected to the Internet and to
local area networks,
facilitating the spread of malicious code. Today's viruses may also take
advantage of network services such as the
World Wide Web,
e-mail,
Instant Messaging, and
file sharing systems to
spread.
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