University of Bejaia

Faculty of exact sciences

Department of computer science

Module: technical English
Level: M1

Computer virus
1- definition:
A computer virus is a small software program that can spread from one computer system to
another and cause interferences with computer operations. A computer virus has the capacity
to corrupt or to delete data on your computer and it can use an e-mail program to spread the
virus to other email addresses in your online address book. In the worst case scenario, it can
even delete everything on your hard disk.

2- Forms of Computer Viruses

In the same way as viruses harm peoples' bodies, computer viruses can do considerable
damage to computer systems. Viruses are infections. Computer infections can come in several
forms and your computer can "catch" one in several ways:

An email virus is one type of computer virus. An email virus can travel through
attachments in email messages and can automatically replicate itself by mailing itself
to dozens or even hundreds of people on your list of contacts found in your online
address book. There are email viruses that can launch themselves into your computer
while you are simply viewing the messasge. You don’t even need to double-click the
message in order for the message to install itself.
A Trojan horse is not a virus. It is a computer program that claims to be a game but, in
actuality, will just do damage once you run it. It may even erase your hard disk. It
cannot automatically replicate itself.
A worm is a type of software called mallware that uses security holes and computer
networks in order to replicate itself. The worm will scan the network for machines
which carry a particular security hole. It will then copy itself to the machine through
the security hole and will start replicating itself.

Viruses in general, start working and spreading once you start using the application or
program to which the virus is attached. For instance, a program that has a virus in it will place
the virus in the system’s memory each time that program is run.

Once the virus is in the memory, one of several things can happen. First, it can be
programmed to attach itself to other programs and applications, folders, or disks. Second, if
given the chance, it can infect a network.
 3- How Computer Viruses Are Activated
Computer viruses are easily spread through the use of attachments in various email messages
or via messages from instant messaging; so, you must never open unexpected email
attachments unless you know and trust whoever sent the message.

Be very careful as computer viruses can be easily disguised as ordinary-looking attachments

or even as attractive images, funny graphics, cards, video, and audio files. Computer viruses
can also spread through downloads you do while online. They can be hidden in software,
especially in pirated items, or in other programs and files which you are downloading.

4- Common Types of Computer Viruses

1. Resident Virus

Resident viruses set up shop in your RAM and meddle with your system operations. They’re
so sneaky that they can even attach themselves to your anti-virus software files.

2. Multipartite Virus

This virus infects the entire system. Multipartite viruses spread by performing unauthorized
actions on your operating system, folders, and programs.

3. Direct Action

This virus targets a specific file type, most commonly executable files (.exe), by replicating
and infecting files. Due to its targeted nature, this virus type is one of the easier ones to detect
and remove.

4. Browser Hijacker

Easily detected, this virus type infects your browser and redirects you to malicious websites.

5. Overwrite Virus

Like the name implies, overwrite viruses overwrite file content to infect entire folders, files,
and programs.

6. Web Scripting Virus

This sneaky virus disguises itself in the coding of links, ads, images, videos, and site code. It
can infect systems when users download malicious files or visit malicious websites.
7. File Infector

By targeting executable files (.exe), file infector viruses slow down programs and damage
system files when a user runs them.

8. Network Virus

Network viruses travel through network connections and replicate themselves through shared
resources.

9. Boot Sector Virus

One of the easier viruses to avoid, this virus hides out in a file on a USB drive or email
attachment. When activated, it can infect the system’s master boot record to damage the
system.