A virus is an externally activated piece of program code that replicates and then spreads by becoming attached to a host, commonly harming the host while doing so. The host, which is normally another computer program or computer operating system, then infects the applications that are transferred to other computers.
The first recorded definition of a computer virus is attributed to Dr Frederick Cohen in his 1984 paper Experiments with Computer Viruses. Dr Cohen’s definition, which to this day is accepted as standard, states that a computer virus is ‘a program that can “infect� other programs by modifying them to include a possibly evolved version of itself’ (Cohen 1984).
Viruses can be classified as belonging to one of two types: research or “in the wild�. A Research Virus ‘has been written for research or study purposes and has received almost no distribution to the public’ (National Institute of Standards and Technology 1994). A virus is classified as being “in the wild� when it is roaming unchecked across networks or has ‘been sent with any regularity’ (National Institute of Standards and Technology 1994).
Viruses, just like any other computer programs, contain instructions that tell your computer what to do. Unlike a program however, a virus can attach itself to other files within your computer and use your computer to actively spread itself to others. http://www.campusprogram.com/reference/en/wikipedia/c/co/computer_virus.html (2004) suggests that viruses act in a similar way to other program codes by using the host's resources - memory and hard disk space among others – but distort this use to become deliberately destructive (erasing files / formatting hard disks) or to allow others to access the machine without authorization across a network.
Spreading the Computer Virus can be done in a range of different ways, the most effective of which has proven to be e-mail attachments. Once an infected file or application has been opened, the malicious code is copied into your system where it commences or waits for the trigger to commence its attack.
Zetter (2000) proposes that there are six different categories of the computer virus that exist. They are:
“Virus� is typically the term used to describe all Malware (malicious software), despite the fact that analysts have determined that the virus, worm, Trojan horse, and spyware are all different yet effective forms of this software. A predominant amount of Anti-Virus Software is effective in fighting attacks made by each of these different forms of Malware.
Computer viruses present a major threat to new media technologies. New media Technologies are said to have ‘reshaped the material basis for society’ (Castells 1996), through their ability to distribute information at a rapid pace and huge volume. This distribution of information at rapid pace and huge volume can quickly be transformed into a transport super-highway for viruses that are either hidden within the information being sent or received, or are attached to a program within the initial senders computer.
Feldman (1997) proposes that new media technologies allow digital technology to be compressible. This compression allows large amounts of information to be stored in a small space – what would once have taken up shelves of printed books can now be stored within a single computer program. This compression of information can easily become a weakness due to a virus’ ability to either damage or delete complete hard drives of a computer – where the information is so easily stored, or simply to acquire the information from a single computer’s e-mail address book and potentially infect copious amounts of others.
Another increasingly common way for viruses to affect new media technologies is due to digitilisation. Hartley (2002) suggests that a significant result of digitilisation is that information can now be transferred cross otherwise distinct platforms. Media convergence now means that traditional media are no longer required to retain their separate identities, and new Wireless Technologies can freely interact with one another. A computer virus can easily take advantage of such convergence by infecting Wireless Technologies other then computers. Examples of which include “Timofonica� – a virus that spread from computers to mobile phones in Spain; “Nachi� – a virus that was written to clean up after another virus but instead crippled ATMs and airline check-in systems worldwide; and the recent “Cabir� virus, which is spread via Bluetooth technology and affects mobile phones.
Castells, M.1996. The Rise of the Network Society. Massachusetts: Blackwell. ISBN 1557866171
Cohen, F. 1984. Experiments with Computer Viruses. http://www.all.net/books/virus/part5.html (accessed 8 September 2004).
Computer Virus. 2004. http://www.campusprogram.com/reference/en/wikipedia/c/co/computer_virus.html (accessed 8 September, 2004).
Feldmen, T. 1997. An Introduction to Digital Media. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415151082
Hansen, E. 2000. New email virus bombards mobile phone users. http://news.com.com/2100-1023-241489.html?legacy=cnet (accessed September 8, 2004).
Harding, D. 2004. Hackers unleash mobile phone virus. http://www.thisislondon.com/news/articles/11405102?source=Metro (accessed September 8, 2004).
Hartley, J. 2002. Communication, Cultural and Media Studies: The Key Concepts - Third Edition. London: Routledge. ISBN 0415268893
History of Viruses. 2004. http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistir/threats/subsubsection3_3_1_1.html (accessed 8 September, 2004).
Windows-run ATM hit by virus. 2003. http://p2pnet.net/story/354 (accessed September 8, 2004).
Zetter, K. 2000. How a computer virus works. http://www.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/10/23/virus.works.idg/ (accessed 8 September, 2004).
Melissa Patch 11:47, 10 Sep 2004 (EST)
