A computer virus is a harmful program that can be created by individuals who want to cause damage or disruption to computers and systems. They are hidden pieces of code that ride a ride on other programs or applications and once activated they propagate like wildfire. Viruses are typically found attached to programs or documents that have been downloaded from the internet or distributed via email. The majority of countries consider that the creation and spread of a computer virus is illegal.
In the world of computer viruses, there are many different types that can infect a machine in different ways. Certain computer viruses depend on an application to begin their work. Others are self-contained and can infect multiple systems without a host. Computer viruses that employ a host program in order to infect computers are usually known as worms and those that don’t employ this method of infection via other programs are referred to as viruses.
Certain viruses can begin infecting systems as soon as they arrive, while others remain undiscovered until a user unwittingly executes the code. The first computer virus was created in 1974, and it acted like a biological one by rapidly multiplying itself and causing damage to the system. Stuxnet is an example of a destructive computer virus. It was designed to destroy computerized centrifuges that were used to enrich Uranium.
It is not for the faint-hearted to attempt this method. However, it is a fun and fascinating way to test your proficiency in computer programming languages and systems. If you’re willing to spend the time and effort, there are many sources that will guide you through the process of creating an infection.