What is Computer VIRUS | IBPS PO Prelims & Mains Preparation - Bank Exams PDF Download

What is a VIRUS?

It is actually a program, created by people who have knowledge to write software programs. In proper terms, it is called an ‘executable program’, with bad intentions!

Viruses are a type of malware, i.e., it is malicious software.

How does it work?

A come attached with another program, and once it is in our system and we execute our program- we run the virus too!

The virus replicates itself; that is multiplies when has attached itself to a computer through an infected program.

So, suppose we download an mp3 song from some suspicious looking website, and we do not have anti-virus software on our PC, in such a case a virus may get downloaded along with the mp3.

Once, the virus is in our computer, it then starts making copies of itself on our computer. So, you can imagine, once it replicates, it must need space, thus a virus uses up the hard disk space and that makes our PC/system slow and makes it hang or crash!

What other damages does it do?

Depending on what the intention of the person programming the virus was, a virus can do many different types of damages, like :

• modification of data (Transformers movie anyone?)
• files maybe overwritten with false information
• files maybe damaged, so you can not open them anymore or work on them
• it may even wipe out an entire drive!
• it may make your system to re-boot again and again
• high threat viruses which target databases of big organizations and MNCs may even leak top security information of the companies…

A Virus can be programmed to do anything, so its threat can be anything; it’s a creepy virtual world out there!

Some Famous Viruses

(i) First actual virus – Creeper (1970s), detected on ARPANET.

• It displayed a message on the screen, “I am the creeper, catch me if you can!”

(ii) First actual personal computer virus – Elk Cloner (1982), 

• it affected Apple OS through a floppy and displayed a short poem!

(iii) First virus to hit Microsoft’s DOS – Brain (1986)

(iv) Most destructive virus – MYDoom (January 2004)

(v) Most widespread and fast spreading virus – ILOVEYOU, 

• also known as the love letter! (2000)