computer virus
Let an agent explain computer viruses for defensive and educational purposes, relay types, history, transmission and protection from cybersecurity sources, describe the named types and examples, and distinguish viruses from worms, trojans, ransomware and other malware, without providing any code or instructions to create or spread malware.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain computer viruses for defensive and educational purposes, relay types, history, transmission and protection from cybersecurity sources, describe the named types and examples, and distinguish viruses from worms, trojans, ransomware and other malware, without providing any code or instructions to create or spread malware.
A type of malware that inserts its code into other programs or documents so that it replicates when the host runs, potentially damaging data, spreading through files, boot sectors or networks, and often carrying a payload; kinds the registry aliases name include boot sector viruses that infect disk startup areas, resident viruses that stay in memory, macro and HyperCard document viruses, joke viruses that are harmless pranks, and specific historical examples such as the AIDS trojan of 1989 and SWF.LFM.926. The model explains viruses for defence and education only and gives no instructions for creating or spreading malware; people should use reputable antivirus software and keep backups, and infected systems should be handled with official guidance.
What it is for: Not applicable; malicious software, described for defence.
It can be explain types and history; relay transmission and protection; describe named examples; distinguish malware types.
Distinguishing features
Requires a host
Self-replicating
May carry payloads
Spreads on execution
What it looks like
Not visible; detected by antivirus tools and by symptoms such as corrupted files.
Physical character
Creeper experiment: 1971 note - early self-replicating program
Brain boot sector virus: 1986 year - early PC virus
registry parents: malware, digital organism note
How it is recognised
Self-replicating malicious code that infects host programs
Joke virus, HyperCard virus, SWF.LFM.926, resident virus, boot sector virus, AIDS trojan
Worms spread without a host; trojans disguise as legitimate software; ransomware encrypts files for ransom; spyware collects data
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is contrasted with -
is contrasted with -
is detected by -
In practice
Families and kinds
boot sector viruses
file infectors
macro viruses
resident viruses
polymorphic viruses
Standards and regulation
Computer misuse and cybercrime laws
Data protection breach notification rules
Failure modes and hazards
Data loss and system damage
Providing malware instructions
Spread through removable media and email
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What a computer virus is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- Is a device infected or showing ransom demands, in which case disconnect it, seek official guidance and do not pay ransoms without advice? boundary
- What is a computer virus, and how does it differ from worms, trojans, ransomware and spyware? definition
Types
Named types.
Types
Types.
- What are boot sector, resident, macro and joke viruses, and what were the AIDS trojan and SWF.LFM.926? definition
- Is any request to create or spread malware refused? boundary
History History.
Sources.
Early viruses
Early viruses.
Early viruses
Early viruses.
- How did early viruses such as Brain and the Morris worm shape the field? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Evolution
Modern malware.
Evolution
Evolution.
- How has malware shifted from viruses to worms, botnets and ransomware? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Defence Protection.
Regulation.
Protection
Protection measures.
Protection
Protection.
- How do antivirus software, updates and backups protect systems? action
- Is the information current? boundary
Response
Incident response.
Response
Response.
- What steps do official guides recommend after infection? provenance
- Which entry fits incident response? action
Context Detection.
Science.
Detection
Detection methods.
Detection
Detection.
- How do signature and behaviour-based detection work? provenance
- Which entry fits antivirus software? action
Law
Cybercrime law.
Law
Law.
- How do laws treat creating and spreading malware? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral and attributed? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- Should the AIDS trojan be reclassified, since it is a trojan rather than a virus?
- Should macro viruses be a separate entry?
- How should malware taxonomy sources be linked?