Before we dive in, let‘s start with a clear overview – what are computer viruses? Simply put, a computer virus is malicious code that replicates itself to spread to other computers. It can use your computer‘s resources to multiply and infect without you even realizing it[^1].
Viruses often delete files, corrupt data, install spyware, or even render full systems unusable. Costing an estimated $55 billion annually in repairs worldwide[^2], it pays to protect yourself. Especially as viruses grow steadily more sophisticated and evasive.
By understanding these threats better, you‘ll be far better positioned to safeguard your precious data. Consider me your friendly neighborhood computer virus expert, here to help! Stick with me through this guide to learn:
- Key events in the history of computer viruses
- Different types of viruses explained
- How modern viruses spread and do damage
- Real talk – the worst virus attacks I‘ve seen
- Top tips to avoid viruses from infecting your computer
- Must-know virus protection steps for workplaces
- Will Macs ever get hit by viruses? Myth vs truth
- And more – let‘s dive in!
A history of computer virus firsts – when it all started
While occasional prank viruses date back decades, more destructive threats emerged through the 80s and 90s[^3]:
| Year | Virus | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Creeper | One of the first – a self-replicating virus displaying a message |
| 1986 | Brain | First MS-DOS virus – targeted boot sectors |
| 1987 | Vienna | First successfully spreading file-infector virus |
| 1988 | Morris Worm | Major early internet worm – took down 10% of early internet-connected computers |
| 1992 | Michelangelo | On March 6, wiped hard drives of infected computers |
| 1999 | Melissa | Email worm that was incredibly virulent, hitting companies worldwide |
And it only accelerated from there. Major worms like Code Red, Nimda, and SQL Slammer caused enormous damage in the early 2000s. Then a new era of sophisticated modern malware emerged, with evasive trojans, ransomware, spyware, and more hitting the scene.
Crafty social engineering tricks users into installing viruses too – like fake software cracks, movie/music downloads, duplicitous email attachments, and clickbait web links. It continues evolving rapidly – the threats we see today are far more advanced with new strains emerging constantly.
Next let‘s break down different virus types and how they infect systems.
[^1]: Roberts, M. (2011). What is a Computer Virus? Retrieved from https://www.howto-connect.com/what-is-a-computer-virus/[^2]: Mehmood, A., Natgunanathan, I., Xiang, Y., Hua, G., & Guo, S. (2016). Protection of Big Data Privacy. IEEE Access, 4, 1821-1834. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2016.2577518
[^3]: Encyclopedia Britannica. (2006). Computer virus. Retrieved March 11, 2022 from https://www.britannica.com/technology/computer-virus
