Coding

How Do Computer Viruses Work?

The Destroyer of Computers

Internet worm, computer artwork. Photography. Britannica ImageQuest, Encyclopædia Britannica, 25 May 2016. quest.eb.com/search/132_1302989/1/132_1302989/cite. Accessed 23 Feb 2022.

By: Tiendan Le, Journalist

In this age of technology, with so much power at our fingertips, some of it is used for bad. Enter computer viruses, the most lethal weapon in the modern age. Able to steal personal information among other malicious acts, knowing how they work is a key part in taking the right steps to protect yourself.

What Is A Computer Virus?

A computer virus is code that is written to maliciously change a users computer, and can spread from computer to computer, and through servers. Think of a computer virus as the flu. To spread, it attaches onto a victim and infects the computer, then it sends copies of itself out to other computers, through means like email or files.

How Does A Computer Virus Work?

You can get a computer virus through multiple means, like clicking on sketchy links and downloading suspicious products online. Then it sits dormant until the conditions for it are met, then it will activate and execute what it was coded to do. Most computer viruses are meant for malicious purposes, while some are playful. When a malicious virus activates, it can do many things, like log your personal information, damage your hard drive permanently, or even completely hijacking your machine.