When the virus infects a computer, it searches through the network to attack its new potential prey. For example, it may attach itself to the dos program format and run every time you format a diskette. Macro viruses tend to be surprising but relatively harmless. So much so that viruses are now just the tip of the iceberg. How does a computer virus spread a computer virus spreads through removable media, internet downloads, and email attachments. The widespread usage of the internet and the death of the floppy has made other means of virus transmission more effective.
A computer virus is one type of malware that inserts its virus code to multiply itself by altering the programs and applications. Types of computer viruses and definition of each type. Computer viruses are becoming increasingly diverse in types. The first kind, as soon as it lands on a new computer, begins to replicate. Since dmitri ivanovskys 1892 article describing a nonbacterial pathogen infecting tobacco plants, and the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus by martinus beijerinck in. There are different types of computer viruses, and each type has their own separate features and factors that make them different from one another. When this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be infected with a computer virus. A computer virus is a type of malware malicious software or code that is designed to spread from computer to computer and perform harmful activities such as corrupting and disrupting systems or destroying data. Generally, computer virus is capable of damaging any kind of file and hampering the performance of a computer. Some other kinds of malicious software, also called malware, which lack a replication routine but are frequently assumed. Vbs 42, 67 virus 722, 67 boot sector 62 companion 63 defined 8 file 14, 63 first 18.
A computer virus is a type of malicious software program. A virus is a tiny infectious agent that reproduces inside the cells of living hosts. Unlike most living things, viruses do not have cells that divide. Computer viruses a computer virus is a program that has the ability to reproducereplicate itself without the users knowledge. Computer virus definition is all about a small software that loaded on your system without your knowledge and because of such software your system performance effected. Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Macro virus this is one of the types of viruses on computers which infects files that are made with the use of certain programs or applications with macros such as. On this page, you will learn everything you need to know about the types, symptoms, protection, prevention, detection and removal of computer viruses.
A computer virus is a computer program that can spread across computers and networks by making. There are many known techniques that can be used by a virus, and viruses appear on many platforms. Computer viruses can be classified by type of targeted file, longevity. Typically, each virus will only infect one type of target though some security analysts believe. This document makes use of some definitions from mecklermedia 1 computers types i, computer. When infected, the host cell is forced to rapidly produce thousands of identical copies of the original virus. An anti virus program knows everything about computer bugs. Various kinds of antivirus software have been developed which detect viruses and take corrective actions. As internet connectivity grows, the ease with which computer viruses can spread also grows. Be very careful with email, email attachments or files of any kind. Definition a computer is a machine that can be programmed to manipulate symbols.
Documents like ms excel or ms word are infected by this virus as well and its infection can spread to other related documents. The most popular examples of resident viruses are cmj, meve, mrklunky, and randex. A computer virus is a type of malware that is intentionally written to gain entry into your computer, without your knowledge or permission. Analysis of various types of viruses and their remedies. A virus is by definition a computer program that spreads or replicates by copying itself. If this file is copied to a computer, virus is also copied to the computer. Trojan horses, computer viruses are instances of malicious logic or malicious. Computer viruses have evolved from mildly annoying to seriously destructive. The threat today and the expected future xin li 2 abstract this masters thesis within the area computer security concerns computer viruses.
A computer virus is a type of computer program that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. But unlike simpler infectious agents like prions, they contain genes, which allow them. As it is hard to define malware in a proper way, it can also be. The different types of viruses on the basis of their infected area are message carrying virus, boot sector virus, system or file infector virus, bomb virus, macro virus, trojan horse.
In this lesson, youll learn more about some different types of viruses and how they function in the computer environment. The purpose of this paper is to define the last malware and prevent the computer. It is important that you scan your computer for viruses once in a while, so that you can be sure about its protection. Computer viruses are related to other types of programs such as trojan horses and. Firstly, the definitions of computer virus and the related threats are. Overwrite virus contaminated the files which have information and make the files useless for the use examples are way, trj reboot, trivial 88d. Virus writers use social engineering deceptions and exploit detailed knowledge of security. Computer virus is a term given to manmade computer software or system to destroy computer programs or computer. Boot sector viruses were the first type of virus to appear. Computer viruses from an annoyance to a serious threat. However, the ability to replicate itself is the common criterion that distinguishes a virus from other kinds of software.
There are several types of computer viruses, commonly every malicious code such as adware, trojans, spyware, keylogger, worm, rootkit, backdoor are called a virus. When a new virus appears, the rush begins to identify and understand it as well as develop appropriate counter. To aid the fight against computer viruses and other types of malicious software, many security advisory organizations and developers of anti virus software compile and publish lists of viruses. There are other types of software that can cause problems in a pc. Viruses which infect bacterial cells are known as bacteriophage or bacteria eaters. Generally, network viruses multiply through shared resources, i. Resident viruses this type of virus is a permanent which dwells in the ram memory.
Definition of computer virus a computer virus is a program that may disturb the normal working of a computer system. Notes on types and protection of computer viruses grade. Computer virus types names, definition, removal, protection. The term computer virus is used for a program that has infected some executable software and, when run, causes the virus to spread to other. There are types of computer virus that effect your system in different way. This article is the result of several wellknown sources. A computer virus is a malware program that is written intentionally to gain access to a computer without its owners permission. Types of computer viruses a computer virus is one type of malware that inserts its virus code to multiply itself by altering the programs and applications.
Soft communication like internet surfing, email can also launch virus onto the computer system while receiving these types of viruses one remains ignorant of their presence before its execution. It has the capacity to modify or replicate itself, in which case it will continue spreading. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. Retrovirus is another type virus which tries to attack and disable the anti virus application running on the computer. It can interfere with normal system operation which can lead to the corruption of files and programs. As soon as a program gets run in the computer, the virus becomes active and starts to add itself to the memory of the computer and at the sight of it destroys all the data on the whole computer. However, each type of dangerous code is different in behavior and. From simple viruses that are harmless and made to mock people for their poor cybersecurity or heighten the ego of some teenage hacker, they have become the sole reason why they are so many data leaks and breaches occurring to. From there it can overcome and interrupt all of the operations executed by the system.
Your anti virus program is the best solution to fight them. These kinds of programs are primarily written to steal or destroy computer data. Networkborn worms, such as the 2001 code red worm, fall into the same category. Something like opening a email attachment or downloading a file off the internet or giving or receiving a copy of a program or file from a coworkers thumb drive can expose you and. The viruses which infect and live inside the animal cell including man are called animal viruses. Different types of computer viruses computer virus. Computer viruses come in different forms to infect the system in different ways. A macro virus is a computer virus that infects a microsoft word or similar application and causes a sequence of actions to be performed automatically when the application is started or something else triggers it. Computer viruses generally refer to programs that unintentionally get into computers, disrupt the normal operation, and cause damage to data and programs 32. Computer viruses can wreck havoc to the operations of the computer. Virus attaches itself to files stored on floppy disks, usbs, email attachments and hard disks. The compilation of a unified list of computer viruses is made difficult because of naming.
What is a computer virus and types of virus, how to avoid it. A computer virus is a type of malware that is written in. A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. A computer virus is a type of malware malicious software or code that is designed to spread from computer to computer and perform. In other words, a virus spreads while the user is viewing an infected advertisement, visiting an infected website, opening the attachment in the email, or clicking on an executable file. A computer virus is a type of malware that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code. It is very infectious, performing unauthorized actions in your operating system. The computer gets infected through the replication of malicious code. A computer virus is an unwanted malicious program designed to cause damage to computers on a large scale. Sometimes designed to vandalize web pages, worms may seem like the online equivalent to graffiti tagging, with the authors alias or affinity group appearing everywhere the worm goes code red.
Most systems catch viruses due to program bugs, the vulnerability of operating systems, and poor security practices. Computer viruses encyclopedia of life support systems. Because there are so many types of computer viruses, a virus can infect another computer unintentionally anytime that program is run and the virus is activated. When the virus finishes infecting that computer, it moves on to the next and the cycle repeats itself.
The virus can be classified on the basis of the type of host and genetic material. There are different types of viruses that cause different damages to information and programs stored on computers. In todays world computers are the most used things, but there are many viruses that affect computers and make it slow and infected. Today in this article i will show you the types of computer viruses and definition of each type. Purpose the purpose of this paper is to discuss various types of computer viruses, along with their characteristics, working, effects on the computer systems and to suggest measures for. Boot sector virus boot sector viruses became popular because of the use of floppy disks to boot a computer. Pdf computer viruses have been around since the mid 1980s. Recent study data say that the majority of the malicious programs out there in the wild today are trojans and computer worms, with viruses having declined in numbers. Files containing macros are instantly infected by macro virus. A computer virus is a malicious software program malware that can infect a computer by modifying or deleting data files, boot sector of a hard disk drive or causes a software program to work in an unexpected manner. There are various types of computer viruses, classified in terms of techniques, origin, the types of files affected, damage, os or platform attacked, as well as the places they hide. This type of virus can easily spread in your computer system. They attack all platforms and are written in all popular computer languages. An estimated 50,000 computer viruses provide a variety of effects ranging from the merely unpleasant to the catastrophic.
1218 1341 449 986 43 481 407 277 1352 1189 1329 206 1278 1136 299 850 974 1325 1311 457 370 187 838 879 1264 328 410 698 1169 31 173 664