What is a Computer Virus?

04/16/2014 - Kirk Caskey

So, what is a computer virus anyway?

In its simplest form, a computer virus is just "software", or a program if you will. It contains what is called "code", or computer "language". Virus software is just like legitimate software, only with a destructive or malicious purpose.



This software can be downloaded to our computers when we click on a bad link, "view" an infected file or image, "download" an infected song, movie, video, or even another program. And remember, even when we just "browse" the Internet, we are actually "downloading" the files that make up the Web sites we are visiting to our computers. So, just "visiting" a Web site can result in a virus infection if the Web site visited contains an "infected" file. It can be almost anything, anywhere. Even advertisements can contain viruses.

Virus software is created by "hackers", people (organizations or individuals) around the world with the sole purpose of accomplishing a malicious task. Identity theft, credit card theft, data theft, activity monitoring, and remote system attacks are just some of the possibilities.

For more information: AVG Threat Labs

Kirk Caskey is owner of KC TECHNOLOGIES in Murphysboro, IL