How Computer Virus works

Table of Contents:

  1. How Computer Virus works
  2. Types of VIRUS
  3. Protection & FAQs

Submitted By: 
davesh
All of us understand the need of having an antivirus installed on our PC, but have you ever given thought about what are viruses? Why are they called virus? Who created the first virus? Who makes virus and why do they make them? Can virus spread by opening a link or reading an email?
If you are curious to know answers to these questions, let’s do some virus hunting…
 
WHAT IS VIRUS AND WHY ARE THEY CALLED SO?
In simpler terms VIRUS can be defined as a computer program (piece of code) which can spread across computers and network by making copies of itself, thus infecting the computer and usually it makes it copies without users knowledge.
But why are computer virus called virus; the reason is because of the striking resemblance to the real biological virus. The way they infect, the way they spread are a lot similar. A biological virus infects a person (host) which is its vehicle or carrier. The next task in hand is to reproduce itself, which it does by spreading to other cells (healthy) of the host. Then it tends to move from a person to other person and then repeat the whole process.  This ensures the widespread of virus. 
From this we can derive that how computer virus infects and how do they spread. In case of computer virus, the syringe is replaced by files, emails, and documents etc which are source of virus. The actual source-parent of virus is definitely a coder who writes the piece of code. They reproduce themselves by attaching with the files present in a PC and then tend to pass on to other PCs through internet, files etc. And this process continues. 
But they do differ from biological viruses in some aspects. Computer virus are manmade, and they are made to hinder the working, have fun which is generally not the case with biological viruses.
 
WHICH WAS THE FIRST VIRUS MADE AND WHY?
The first computer virus was developed by 2 Pakistani brothers in Lahore (Pakistan) in 1986. Its name was “Brain” and was developed to prevent the piracy of software made by them. The virus was not destructive in nature.
 
WHAT CAN VIRUS DO?
We know that viruses are programs only rather piece of code, so the task performed by them is defined by the coder. But still we can list the various tasks performed by virus as: 
 


Comments (3)

it is agood web 

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 16/05/2012 - 22:20.

it is agood web

 

good explanation thanks 

Submitted by manieceindia on Fri, 21/09/2012 - 09:37.

good explanation thanks

 

I think the info is

Submitted by priyankadesai40 on Wed, 16/01/2013 - 13:22.

I think the info is incomplete