A computer virus is an executable code that, when run by someone, attaches itself to other executable codes in a computer in an effort to reproduce itself.2 Some computer viruses are very destructive, by deleting files or causing systems to freeze. There are other viruses that are just there to be an annoyance. The number of things a virus can be programmed to do is endless.

Computer viruses do not run by themselves. They require an operating system for activation. Once a virus has been activated, it searches the computer system for other programs to infect. Viruses can only infect executable programs not plain data.

In 1948 John Von Neumann showed mathematically that it was possible to build a computer program.3 At that time however, most experts did not take him seriously. A few scientists went on to pursue his ide

A well-known virus is the Michael Angelo virus. When his birthday, March 6, hits a computer carrying the virus can become infected and have its files deleted. This virus has been around for some time now and most likely will continue to. Microsoft Word macro viruses are collections of macros for MS Word that can infect documents and document templates under Word 6.0.12 An example of this is Concept, which changes the save-as function, causing documents to be saved to the template directory rather than the document directory.13

Most computer viruses written are the result of hackers. They usually tend to write them as sort of revenge against society. Another type of revenge is through a disgruntled employee. Recent studies have shown that computer crime and abuse is, for the most part, committed by employees.15 Though it is somewhat difficult to write a virus, it is pretty easy for an employee to release an existing virus into the system. In 1989, a former employee of a stockbroking firm in the US was found guilty of planting a time bomb that caused $200,000 worth of damage.16

A group of volunteers then set out to clean up forty-five file servers and 3500 workstations. The server cleanup was completed by Saturday morning and the workstations were virus-free by Sunday morning.

I believe that computer viruses are a real threat to our society. Thousands of viruses invade the computers of businesses. The anti-viral software on the market can not keep up with these more sophistcated viruses. I do not know what can be done, but whatever it is has to be tremendous. It always seems like everything is created by accident and that is definitely how computer viruses were found.

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