Computer Virus

Computer virus

Computer virus: A computer virus is a program, a set of instructions,or a piece of executable code that has the unique ability to replicate. Like biological viruses, computer viruses can spread quiclky & are often difficult to eradicate. They can attach themselves to just about any type of file & spread through files that are copied & sent from individual to individual. Computer viruses not only display messages or image, they can also destroy files, format computer memory or cause other kind of damage. If the virus doesn't contain a damage routine, it can still cause trouble by taking up storage space & memory, & down grading the 

overall performance of the computer. Several years ago most viruses spread primarily via floppy disk, but the internet has introduced new virus distribution mechanisms. With e-mail now used as an important business communication tool, viruses are spreading faster than ever. Viruses attached to e-mail messages can infect an entire enterprise in a matter of minutes, costing companies million of dollars annually in productivity loss & clean up expenses. Visuses won't go away any time soon. According to the International Computer Security Association more than 18000 viruses have been indentified, & 400 to 500 new ones are created every month. With number like those, it is safe to say that most organizations will deal regularly with virus outbreaks. No one who uses computers is
immune from viruses. The computer viruses are written by people who just want to amuse themselves. Some authors give these viruses funny names like *Saturday 14th *Aids *Thanks living *Happy birthday *Twelve tricks. And so on. Computer viruses have a lifecycle that starts when they are created & ends when they are completely eradicated.