Computer Virus

'Computer virus' is a widely used and yet highly misunderstood phrase. Let us see what a computer virus really is. A computer virus is basically a computer program and much like the micro organisms, this program is capable of multiplying on its own and can tamper with the functions of a computer. Hence it is called a computer virus. Around the year 1948-49 a scientist named John Van Newman, mentioned in his report about self copying programs. Later, in 1960, scientists at Bell laboratory almost succeeded in their effort to understand this phenomenon. The concept of computer virus and its real meaning was first presented by a graduate student of California University, Fred Kochchane on november 11, 1983. The young scientist briefed his University professors on computer virus and since then a lot of studies and research  have been conducted by a number of scientists.

Computer virus is a program which is meant to interrupt the computer operation intentionally, misguide the user on memory details and corrupt the whole memory and files of a computer. Normally, a virus finds its way to computers through virus infected floppies. An infected floppy spreads the virus from computer to computer.

It is difficult to say where exactly the virus affects a computer. There are two types of viruses - Boot sector virus and File virus. The boot sector is where the DOS files are stored. The virus that effects the entire boot sector is called boot sector virus. Whereas the file virus corrupts the programs and the data. There are thousands of computer viruses being invented steadily. VOM, Trogen, Horse, Guppy etc., are a few among them. Some may cause very little threat to the computers whereas others could affect the hard disk.

Although there is no definite answer as to why these virus programs are being made. The most obvious reason perhaps is to avoid piracy (where programs are just copied without paying for it). Certain viruses are infused into the program and when copied illegally, the computer virus also enters the floppy. Later it prevents the floppy from functioning properly. This may, at times, cause complete damage to the computer. But as much as ways to destroy it. Of late, there are numerous anti virus programs that have been invented to counter the virus menace.

The anti virus program is a scanning program that identifies the presence of virus and disables it and prevents its infection.