Viruses
A computer virus is a malicious reproducing application that attaches itself to other programs. Viruses may damage computers in any number of ways, including changing data, corrupting data, damaging data, and hurting your computer's perfromance by monopolizing system resources.
Viruses fall into one or more categories:
- Boot sector virus
- Master Boot Record (MBR) virus
- File infector virus
- Macro
The boot sector computer virus infects the boot record on hard disks, floppy disks, and other media. Because the boot sector virus does not require that you actually boot, it can be spread through many non-bootable types of media. Boot sector viruses have become much elss common, since the use of floppy disks has declined. Master Boot Record viruses are similar to boot sector viruses, but infect the Master Boot Record, rather than the boot sector. File infector viruses infect executable files (e.g. .EXE, .COM). Finally, Macro viruses infect data files. They are most prevalent with Microsoft Office documents, such as Word Documents, PowerPoint Presentations, Excel Spreadsheets, and Access Databases.
Resources
"Classic Viruses." Virustlist. Accessed April 15, 2007. <http://www.viruslist.com/en/virusesdescribed?chapter=152540474>
"What is a computer virus?" Tech FAQ. Accessed April 15, 2007. <http://www.tech-faq.com/computer-virus.shtml>