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What is a virus - computer  

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What is a VIRUS Virus (computer), self-duplicating computer program that interferes with a computer's hardware or operating system (the basic software that runs the computer). Viruses are designed to duplicate or replicate themselves and to avoid detection. Like any other computer program, a virus must be executed for it to function-that is, it must be located in the computer's memory, and the computer must then follow the virus's instructions. These instructions are called the payload of the virus. The payload may disrupt or change data files, display an irrelevant or unwanted message, or cause the operating system to malfunction. Computer viruses activate when the instructions-or executable code-that run programs are opened. Once a virus is active, it may replicate by various means and tries to infect the computer's files or the operating system. For example, it may copy parts of itself to floppy disks, to the computer's hard drive, into legitimate computer...

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