A computer virus is a malicious program that can be created by individuals who intend to cause harm or disruption to systems and computers. They are hidden bits of code that attach themselves to different programs or applications and once activated, they spread like wildfire. Viruses are often found on documents or programs that have been downloaded from the Internet or distributed via email. Many countries consider it to be illegal to create and spread a computer virus.
There are many kinds of computer viruses that are able to attack computers in a variety of ways. Certain computer viruses are dependent on an application in order to begin their work. Others are not dependent and can attack several systems without a host. Computer viruses that utilize a host program in order to infect computers are typically referred to as worms, and those that don’t employ this method of infection by using other programs are referred to as viruses.
Certain viruses may begin to infect a system as soon as they arrive, while others remain dormant until the user unwittingly executes the code. The first computer virus was developed in 1974, and akin to biological viruses, grew rapidly and caused harm to the system. Stuxnet is an example of a destructive computer virus. It was created to destroy computerized centrifuges which were used to enrich Uranium.
It isn’t for the weak-hearted to try this task. However, it is a fun and exciting way to test your skills in computer programming languages and systems. There are explanation many resources that can teach you how to create a virus if you are willing and capable of putting in the effort.