Before the advent of Internet, the word or term virus only exists in the medical field. The word itself generates a wave of fear to anyone who would hear it. In the real world, viruses are no laughing issue. It makes one think of dreadful things such as epidemic and plague. No one in his right mind would want to be physically infected with harmful viruses because they create havoc and utmost distress to a person's well-being.
In similar manner, computer viruses also spawn chaos and extreme displeasure to a person. Computer viruses are also determined in ways like human viruses. If human viruses range from the virtually harmless cold virus to the highly detrimental HIV virus, computers also vary from the slightly infuriating to extremely damaging. Just like human viruses, computer infections can also be treated and prevented. But despite the "cures" for computer viral infections that are readily available in the market, these annoying and harmful things cannot be completely eradicated. Just as human viruses evolve and turn into more destructive ones, computer viruses also develop into sophisticated ones that are also potentially more vicious.
Contrary to what other people may think, computer viruses are not hypes fabricated by certain companies for their own gain. During those times when computer infections are not as well-known as it is now, many people regard them as publicity stunts released by anti-software manufacturing companies for the buying crowd to purchase their products. The existence and the alarming spread of the Mydoom worm, Melissa virus, and the love bug (also called the ILOVEYOU virus or Y2K bug) prove that these things are for real.
So, what exactly are computer viruses? Computer viruses are basically computer programs created to deliberately append themselves to other applications, programs, and files and replicate whenever they are run or opened. Consequently, computer viruses also stick themselves to storage devices like flash disks and multiply whenever the infected device is accessed by a user.
Computer viruses are called as such because they possess attributes akin to biotic viruses. Not only do computer viruses spread equally as fast as biological infections through contact, but they also replicate in similar fashion as biological viruses. Biotic viruses cannot reproduce by themselves; they need the aid of a living cell for them to multiply. Viruses spread inside a human's or in an animal's body by injecting their DNAs into their host's living cells. It works like a parasite, making use of their host's living cells mechanism to reproduce itself. Computer viruses spread themselves in a manner similar to an organic virus. Generally, viruses pose as threats only when triggered by a code or a function that clashes with a computer's system or several of its installed applications.
According to some, virus is the ackronym for Vital Information Resources Under Siege. But despite what computer experts say, the fact exists that the term is coined after its biological counterpart because it functions similarly. Virus is used also as a derogatory name for authors of these malicious programs.
The damage that viruses are capable of doing varies in the way they are programmed. Different viruses have different ways of replicating themselves. Most viruses, especially the unknown ones, are harmless--- they simply exist in a computer's background to multiply and do not produce any harm on computer systems at all. But there are also a few ones that are intentionally programmed to contain damaging codes that utterly wreck a computer's configuration. Damaging viruses can format an entire hard drive, erase files, and mess partition tables which equate to a massive headache for the infected computer's owner.
Some of the known viruses made it to international headlines because of the massive havoc it brought to the computer and Internet world. The Melissa virus of March 1999 was so destructive it made Microsoft and several powerful computer companies shut down their email networks. The much-feared Y2K bug or ILOVEYOU virus was another powerful infection that rendered similar effect. Year 2004's Mydoom worm was estimated by computer experts to have contaminated or infected some two hundred thousand computers all in one day. The amazing thing about these cyber infections is that even though they are just simple programs, they are capable of creating significant damage to many computers.
Cyber viruses or infections can be spread in several ways. An application containing a harmful virus can contaminate other applications within the system. If an infected computer is in a network, chances are other computers within that network will also be infected if they share files and applications. During the early period of information technology, information dissemination are done through media storage devices such as floppy drives. Once an infected file is stored in a floppy drive, it can contaminate all the computers where it is accessed.
Perhaps the dawn of information highway or the Internet contributed to both the spread and prevention of computer infections. There are already email systems that have anti-virus softwares to detect computer viruses before they can even be downloaded and forwarded by a user. The Internet now also provide many downloadable anti-virus softwares that provide protection against computer viral attacks. As much as the Internet teems with campaigns against these viruses, ironically, it remains the greatest source of these cyber infections. The emergence of spams, pop-ups, and malwares made computer viruses rife and more available for the Internet surfing crowd.
Computer viruses are feared for many reasons. Because most of them are constructed with the intention of destroying a computer system, loads of cash are spent to get a computer's system repaired and eradicated of viruses. Although viruses are not actually capable of destroying hardwares, some cyber viruses are powerful enough to cause them to malfunction. This even costs more than just reformatting a PC or reinstalling previously infected applications. Buying and constantly updating anti-virus software cost a lot too. Meanwhile, for business companies and other establishments, losing valuable and important information also translates to loss of income. The big question remains to be when viruses would stop threatening the cyber world, but one thing is for sure--- it would not be soon.
>>> Next: History of Viruses and Why they are Created
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