computer virus

American  

noun

1. virus.

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computer virus Cultural  

1. A program that enters a computer usually without the knowledge of the operator. Some viruses are mild and only cause messages to appear on the screen, but others are destructive and can wipe out the computer's memory or cause more severe damage.

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The creation of computer viruses can be part of cyberwarfare.

Computer viruses spread from machine to machine on disks or, more commonly, over the Internet.

Etymology

Origin of computer virus

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

The scam began with a pop-up alert about a computer virus and instructions to call a number to get the problem resolved.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2023

Mountain View Hospital, also located in Idaho Falls, was similarly affected by the computer virus, officials said.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2023

The computer virus Stuxnet, which is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel, was discovered in 2010 after it was used to attack a uranium enrichment facility in Iran.

From Reuters • Oct. 26, 2021

He started it in 1987 in his small house in Santa Clara, Calif., in response to the news of a Pakistani computer virus called Brain, thought to be the first to attack personal computers.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2021

A computer virus was the perfect piece of sabotage: invisible and instantaneous.

From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz