The simplest definition we can give to a computer virus is this: a computer program that can create copies of itself as it gets stored in computer memory and storage devices, with the aim of making destruction, sabotage, or sometimes, just plain annoyance.
Computer viruses have been a really disturbing problem for anyone who relies on computers for a living, and for doing everyday tasks. Thankfully, anti-virus software are already very accessible nowadays, some of them can even be acquired totally for free.
But even with the existence of the likes of Norton, Avira, AVG, and Kaspersky, the viruses that make computers sicker than humans are still here, worsening our problems, but making those virus programmers happier and more wicked.
I’m pretty sure you have heard about computer viruses a lot. But have you heard about the following interesting facts about them?
The guy who coined the term
Like any other term that become so commonly used, the term “computer virus” actually started to become popular because it was coined by a guy named Fred Cohen. When a digital counterpart of the common cold and AIDS became widespread, people went berserk with that “panicky” feeling that it is somehow as contagious to biological viruses that it can affect any electronic equipment.
Of course, we know for a fact that such a notion is much too superficial. Anyone who has basic knowledge about digitization and electronics knows for sure that computer viruses only affect well… computers. With his fullest understanding of how viruses can spread and infect computers, Fred Cohen coined the term, and has been commonly used by everyone already.
It started as a game
Decades ago, when computers weren’t household devices yet, only scientists, businessmen, and programmers were using them. And on scenarios where the latter kind of people were known to frequent, they often wage war with each other as to who is more skillful or vigilant.
To prove their prowess and tenacity with their computer-wielding expertise to one another, they developed the habit of making short programs that can automatically copy themselves into other computers by means of disk-inserting.
As data is moved from one personal computer to another, those programs (that we now know as viruses) also move and spread creating all sorts of havoc and irritability to various users. Another programmer would get back by making another more powerful and more annoying program. Another retaliates, and another retaliates as well… on and on.
The game further escalated which turned into an actual digital epidemic. The game was initially called “Core Wars.”
It rapidly spread due to the Internet’s popularity
When computers became commercial as more and more people were buying them, the term “personal computer (PC)” became a widespread phrase. It soon went to become the most important device an office should have.
Apparently, having a single working computer wasn’t enough for offices and companies – they wanted for computers to be interconnected to get work done faster, which can, of course, pave the way for more profit and revenue.
Thus came the internet revolution. With the existence of computer networks, work is done in a quarter of a time, and both employees and employers are so happy about the new breakthrough. But with it comes a major downside too: the rapid spread of computer viruses.
As long as a computer is connected to a network, that computer will always be at risk of getting infected again and again… like a poor little child who’s an easy target for bullies and sexual predators. By opening attachments, installing apps, and even playing games, a virus could be unleashed and start to deliver its wicked “payload” without the user experiencing anything weird at first yet.
It became a cool acronym.
Of course, it is just an innovative way of saying it. But if we look into it closely, the words really fit the description of what a virus can really do. Pretty cool right?
The most destructive virus was from the Philippines.
Some time 20-something years ago, there was a guy from the Philippines who made a program that can well, create copies of itself. The program wasn’t really an advanced or amazing thing to behold. The clever idea behind it was the way in which it was presented and delivered.
By embedding the words “I LOVE YOU” into his message and by sending it to 50 people through email, the virus spread easily, mainly due to the fact that the code attached to it is also program to automatically send itself to 50 more recipients each time it gets read and opened.
With such a tactic, that Filipino dude was able to successfully spread his wicked creation all over the world in a few days. The virus deleted a great number of files from various computer systems all over the planet. Even the great mighty Microsoft was brought down to its knees because of the ILOVEYOU virus!
The guy’s name was Onel De Guzman. All hail Filipinos! The most notorious virus maker was a Noypi!
It is impossible to totally eradicate.
We’ve heard a lot about anti-virus software that we can easily acquire but here’s the plain and simple truth, no matter how you try to wipe out viruses, they will always be there. They are like dust, mold, and fungus – small little problems that can collectively grow to be very big liabilities in our everyday existence.
As long as the digital dimension exists, they will co-exist as well, continually. It basically works like this, a computer gets infected, an anti-virus software will cure it, another more powerful virus gets created, which will not be detected by an outdated anti-virus, another better anti-virus gets developed, but then another virus gets created as well… the cycle goes on and on.
The day when computer viruses will no longer be a problem will be the day when computers will no longer be used by people. Will that day come? Not by any chance. We know that for a fact that computers govern the daily processes of the world today. And since programs will always be inside them, applications called “viruses” will always be present too.
This is a reality that will continually bite us, and one that we must continually bite too… if we wish to continually thrive in this computer-dependent generation.
Computer viruses are always a hot topic. Today, the hackers who create them are not mainly based on the theft of bank accounts, stock exchanges, but also on theft of Bitcoin wallets and other cryptocurrencies. Particular care should be taken to monitor the performance load of the computer in the event of infection with various advanced viruses.