Computer virus: definition, pc security risks


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What is meant by the term computer virus, what security risks, practical effects if run on the computer.


Definition of computer virus

By now everyone knows, from experience or hearsay that the Internet is infested with computer viruses ready to infect their PC causing it to slow down or block completely with serious damage that can go as far as the complete formatting of the hard disk.

Other threats, no less serious, are represented by spyware or spy programs which, once entered inside the computer, carry out their work by collecting confidential information.


Not to mention spam, another scourge that plagues our mailboxes.

No one can therefore do without a complete protection program to be installed on every PC, especially if connected to the web, be it at home or in the office.

In what is called computer security, a virus is a program, which belongs to the category of malware, capable of infecting, when executed, files on the computer in order to reproduce by duplicating itself in a manner almost always completely hidden so as not to be detected by the pc user.

Viruses are not always directly harmful to the operating system in use on the host PC, but in most cases they can result in a waste of resources regarding ram, processor and space occupied on the hard disk.

In general, the virus only damages the software installed in the computer, more rarely the pc components as it can happen in the event that it manages to block the cooling fans causing a deleterious overheating of the cpu.

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Tags: Computer technology
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