A computer virus is a type of malware that attaches itself to another program and can replicate and propagate on computer computer. This virus may spread from one computer to another. For example, you may receive an email with a harmful attachment, inadvertently open the file, and the computer virus then infects your machine. Or in other words, a harmful software application that is installed without the user’s knowledge/ consent on their computer and then performs some malicious acts is known as a virus.
History of Computer Virus:
The “Creeper system ” the first computer virus, was an experimental self-Multiplying virus launched in 1971. Then, the Rabbit virus came in the mid-1970s and was extremely active and it self-replicated very fast and wrecked the functionality at the same speed.
Types of computer virus
1)File Virus: Infects the system by appending itself to the end of a file.
2)Email-Virus: This virus sends through email messages and can be activated when a user clicks on a link in an email message, opens an email attachment, or interacts in any manner with the infected email message.
3)Polymorphic Virus: Poly means many and morphic means forms, So this virus changes its form every time. A virus signature is a pattern that can be used to assess whether a virus exists or not (a series of bytes that make up virus code). This virus changes itself every time when it is installed so that it can avoid detection by antivirus software.
4)Multipartite Virus: This virus has the power to infect a computer’s boot sector and files among other areas,this complicates its detection and containment.
5)Macro Virus: These viruses are activated when a program capable of performing a macro is executed. Macro viruses, for example, can be found in spreadsheet files.
6)Stealth Virus: This virus is difficult to detect because it modifies the code used to detect it. This virus detection is extremely difficult.
7)Boot sector virus: This virus can infects the boot sector.
8)Encrypted Virus: To avoid detection by antivirus software, this type of virus is encrypted. There’s also a decryption algorithm included. As a result, before running, the virus decrypts.
9)Browser Hijacker Virus: This virus attacks and can adjust the computer browser’s settings. it can also force your browser to malicious sites.
10)Direct action Virus: If a virus is tied to an executable file and when the file is opened or run, that virus gets installed/ spread, it is known as “direct action”. This virus does not delete any files or lay impact on the speed of the system; it just renders your files inaccessible.
What does a computer virus do?
Mome computer viruses are designed to damage your computer/system by destroying files, corrupting applications, or reformatting the hard drive. Even less dangerous computer infections can have a substantial impact on your system’s performance, eating up RAM and triggering frequent crashes.
Symptoms of a computer virus?
Below are the symptoms :
- Opening of Pop-up window frequently, some Pop-ups may entice you to visit odd locations. They will take you to a page to download any antivirus (which is actually not an antivirus), or other harmful software.
- Identifying that your files are corrupted.
- Slowing down of system.
- Sometimes change in the name of your hard drive .
- Sometimes not able to find your files or programs.
- Unknown change in the password that does not let you login.
- A virus may damage your hard drive and our device may freeze or crash as a result of this.