virus Hear it!

virus Definition

vi·rus (vī′rəs)

noun

  1. Obsolete venom, as of a snake
    1. any of a kingdom (Virus) of prokaryotes, usually ultramicroscopic, that consist of nucleic acid, either RNA or DNA, within a case of protein: they infect animals, plants, and bacteria and reproduce only within living cells: viruses are considered as being either living organisms or inert chemicals
    2. a disease caused by a virus
  3. anything that corrupts or poisons the mind or character; evil or harmful influence
  4. an unauthorized, disruptive set of instructions placed in a computer program, that leaves copies of itself in other programs and disks

Etymology: L, a slimy liquid, poison < IE base *weis-, to flow (used of foul or malodorous fluids) > ooze, weasel, Gr ios, poison

virus Synonyms

virus

n.

  1. An infection

    sickness, communicability, illness; see disease, infection.

  2. An organism

    microorganism, bacillus, phage; see germ 3.

virus Finance Definition
A destructive computer program that typically is passed around unknow-ingly via infected e‑mail messages. Viruses cause problems for corporate networks and individuals’ computers.
Virus Hacker Definition
Can be a harmful, self-replicating program usually hidden in another piece of computer code, such as an email message. However, some virus infections are purely host-based, so they do their “black magic” only locally.

Because viruses replicate across a network in a variety of ways, they can cause Denial of Service (DoS) attacks in which the victim is not specifically targeted but is an unlucky host. Depending on the type of virus, the DoS can be hardly noticeable—or it can cause a major ­disaster.

A security expert and content editor for Symantec’s online magazine SecurityFocus notes that as of April 2005, Windows users had experienced more than 140,000 virus attacks, in contrast to the Macintosh Apple users who had experienced none. Some security experts maintain that Apple’s freedom from viruses is caused by a lack of critical mass, but Symantec’s expert thinks it is a combination of Apple’s OS X operating system and its three-tiered user-privilege system—(i) user, (ii) GUI superuser, and (iii) root—that is disabled by default. Perhaps that is why, says the Symantec security professional, that Apple experiences a 70% year-over-year growth in ­revenues.

See Also: Denial of Service (DoS); Electronic Message or Email; Root; Symantec Corporation.

Goldberg, I. Glossary of Information Warfare Terms. [Online, October 27, 2003.] Institute for the Advanced Study of Information Warfare. http://www.psycom.net/iwar.2 .html; Martin, K. Apple’s Big Virus. [Online, April 21, 2005.] Reg SETI Group Website. http:// www.theregister.co.uk/2005/04/21/apples_big_virus/; TechTarget. Denial of Service. [Online, May 16, 2001.] TechTarget Website. http://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid14_ gci213591,00.htm.
virus Telecom Definition
A type of intrusive malware that replicates itself and inserts copies of itself in legitimate programs, where it carries out unwanted and often damaging operations. Viruses initially were spread through infected floppy disks, which users frequently exchanged to share data and software. The most common contemporary methods of propagation are through attachments to Internet e-mail and programs downloaded from Websites. Viruses can be prevented if users open attachments only from trusted correspon dents, visit only trusted websites, and purchase anti-virus software that they keep current. The term virus, in the contemporary context, was first used by Fred Cohen in his paper "Experiments with Computer Viruses" (1984). According to Cohen, the term was coined by Len Adleman; however, the term was in common usage long before.The science fiction novel When HARLIE was One (1972), by David Gerrold, describes a computer program named VIRUS, which could be countered by a program named VACCINE. See also malware, spyware, Trojan horse, and worm.
virus Usage Examples

Converse of subject

  • infect: The hackers use ' zombie PCs ' , infected by viruses such as MyDoom and Bagle, making law-abiding users and businesses unwitting participants.

Converse of object

  • blood-bear: Identifying and testing at risk patients Testing Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that can cause significant damage to the liver.
  • transmit: Remember, it's blood that transmits viruses, not just equipment on it's own.

Adjective modifier

  • h5n1: The strain of H5N1 virus found in Asia has not been found in the United States.
  • avian: There are 15 types of avian flu virus that affects birds.
  • deadly: Legion Nigel Williams Gunmen Of The Apocalypse Kryten contracts a deadly computer virus.
  • recombinant: We produced the first recombinant infectious bronchitis virus using reverse genetics technology.
  • pathogenic: Practically all retroviral vectors are derived from pathogenic viruses.
  • infectious: A reverse genetics system was developed for infectious bronchitis virus, which could lead to more stable vaccines.

Modifies a noun

  • scanner: Many programs, such as virus scanners, are set by default to obtain updates.
  • infection: The danger of virus infection needs to be placed in perspective.
  • checker: You must have an up to date virus checker installed on the PC which is connected.
  • replication: He pointed out that virus infection induced immediate and subsequent changes in host gene expression and has an impact on virus replication and movement.
  • hoax: Virus hoax Description: A warning about a non-existent virus.

Noun used with modifier

  • influenza: Most of the avian influenza virus isolates are low pathogenic.
  • herpes: The pioneering Crusade team are developing variants of the herpes simplex virus that can be used in novel treatments in cancers.
  • immunodeficiency: About HIV/AIDS AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV.
  • flu: About the virus How can a normal flu virus become a pandemic flu virus?
  • mosaic: First report of the wheat streak mosaic virus in Australia.
  • simplex: The pioneering Crusade team are developing variants of the herpes simplex virus that can be used in novel treatments in cancers.
virus Quotes

Columbus and his men, they say, Conveyed the virus hither Whereby my features rot away And vital powers wither; Yet had they not traversed the seas And come infected back, Why, think of all the luxuries That modern life would lack.

—Wilbur, Richard

If this is what virus pneumonia does to one, I really don't think I shall bother to have it again.

—Cooper, Dame Gladys