Ads
related to: how does a virus infect a computer- For PC/Mac & Mobile
Award-Winning Antivirus & Security.
Protect 1 or 5 Devices
- AntiVirus Plus
Save on Norton™ AntiVirus Plus
Instant Download - Shop Online Now!
- Opt-in to Cyber Safety
Want to be safer online?
Get Norton™ Cyber Safety today.
- Norton™ Secure VPN
Risk Free – Cancel Anytime
Online Security Solution
- For PC/Mac & Mobile
Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
A computer virus [1] is a type of malware that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code into those programs. [2] [3] If this replication succeeds, the affected areas are then said to be "infected" with a computer virus, a metaphor derived from biological viruses. [4]
Computer viruses generally require a host program. [11] The virus writes its own code into the host program. When the program runs, the written virus program is executed first, causing infection and damage. A worm does not need a host program, as it is an independent program or code chunk.
The Sobig viruses infected a host computer by way of the above-mentioned attachment. When this is started they will replicate by using their own SMTP agent engine. E-mail addresses that will be targeted by the virus are gathered from files on the host computer. The file extensions that will be searched for e-mail addresses are: .dbx.eml.hlp.htm ...
For example, a virus could make an infected computer add autorunnable code to any USB stick plugged into it. Anyone who then attached the stick to another computer set to autorun from USB would in turn become infected, and also pass on the infection in the same way.
Malwarebytes Premium is an anti-malware program for Microsoft Windows and MacOS that finds and removes viruses or malware. It protects you from rapidly evolving online threats like ransomware, software exploits, and infected websites which helps to keep malicious software from finding its way onto your desktop computer.
In 1984 Cohen uses the phrase "computer virus" (suggested by his teacher Leonard Adleman) to describe the operation of such programs in terms of "infection". He defines a "virus" as "a program that can 'infect' other programs by modifying them to include a possibly evolved copy of itself."