Virus: Definition and additional resources from BNET
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BNET Business Dictionary

Business Definition for: Virus

  • a computer program designed to damage or destroy computer systems and the information contained within them. The fact that extremely destructive viruses can be attached to, and even embedded in, e-mail messages means that anyone with an e-mail account is a potential target. Although there is no single foolproof way to eradicate the risk of viruses, the threat they pose can be reduced in a number of ways. The main precaution that should be taken is to invest in antivirus software that can check e-mail messages and attachments automatically.

Wiktionary Definition for: Virus

  • context pathology microbiology virology A core of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat that requires a living cell to replicate — often causes disease in the host organism.
  • computing A computer virus.
  • #English virus
  • #English virus
  • venom
  • poison

Additional Resources

BitDefender Downplays Risk of New World Cup Virus; BitDefender Labs Finds Little Threat from Yagnuul Virus, Claims Anti-virus Makers are Marketing Through Fear
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Earlier this week, a new computer virus, XF.Yagnuul.A, triggered a large amount of coverage in the technical and general press worldwide, and was reported as a danger by several anti-virus vendors. The virus has gained a great deal of attention due to the virus writers attempting...
Tags: antivirus, marketing, virus
Research articles 2006-05-11
SonicWALL Network Anti-Virus Innoculates Businesses Against Virus Outbreaks; The "ILOVEYOU" Virus Underscores the Need for Active Enforcement of Anti-Virus Policies
Business Editors and High Technology Writers
Tags: antivirus, SonicWall, virus
Research articles 2000-05-05
Virus Advisory: McAfee Comments on Boza Virus
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Feb. 8, 1996--In response to an inordinately high call volume from customers concerned about the Boza virus, McAfee (Nasdaq: MCAF), the world's leading vendor of anti-virus software, today issued this virus advisory.
Tags: McAfee Inc., virus
Research articles 1996-02-08
McAfee Unveils Anti-Virus Breakthrough; Bootshield First Anti-Virus Software to Prevent Boot Virus Infections; Ordinary Anti-Virus Software Unable to Prevent Boot Viruses Which Account for Over 70% of all Virus Infections
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Dec. 19, 1995--McAfee (Nasdaq: MCAF) today unveiled BootShield, an anti-virus software package capable of preventing boot virus infections. The software represents a true breakthrough in the struggle against boot virus infections, which cause immeasurable data loss each year for thousands of computer users. Until now,...
Tags: antivirus, McAfee Inc., virus, virus infection
Research articles 1995-12-19
F-Secure Institutes Round-the-Clock Virus Watch Program to Ease Y2K Virus Fears; Research Indicates No Increased Virus Activity Yet
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
Tags: virus, Y2K
Research articles 1999-12-23
Mcafee Discovers Sharefun Virus; First Macro Virus To Automatically Email Itself To Unsuspecting Victims
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Feb. 24, 1997--McAfee (NASDAQ: MCAF), the world's leading vendor of anti-virus software, today announced that its Anti-Virus Emergency Response Team AVERT has discovered the first macro computer virus to specifically target users of Microsoft's popular Microsoft Mail (MS-Mail) email software. The virus, which is called ShareFun, searches...
Tags: e-mail, McAfee Inc.
Research articles 1997-02-24
ADVISORY/Network Virus & Worm Experts Available To Discuss Iraq_Oil Virus; Mazu Networks Executives On Hand To Discuss New Virus
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
Research articles 2002-12-19
IronPort Warns of Dangerous Virus Set to Destroy Documents
IronPort Systems Inc., the leader in email security, is warning businesses and individuals of a new virus that is designed to delete personal and business related files on February 3rd, 2006. The Kama Sutra virus, also known as Nyxem-D or Blackworm, spreads by enticing users to open seemingly pornographic...
Tags: Ironport Systems Inc., virus
Research articles 2006-02-01
Symantec's Anti-virus Experts Addresses Virus Bulletin 2000 Conference; International Security Conference Invites Symantec to Advise on Virus Detection and Prevention
Business Editors/High Tech Writers
Tags: antivirus, Symantec Corp., virus
Research articles 2000-09-27
7 Things To Know About Virus Writers
Hackers - people who devise ways to break into networks - are a different animal than virus writers, and in most cases, more advanced. Virus writers are generally younger (some as young as 10 or 11 years old), on a lower rung of the underground tech strata and not always...
Tags: Security, Viruses And Worms, Cyberthreats, Virus
White papers
Unique Computer Virus Can Be Continually Updated by Virus Writer From Central Location; Symantec Detects W95.Babylonia Computer Virus that Disguises Itself as a Y2K Fix
CUPERTINO, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--December 7, 1999--
Tags: computer, computer virus, Symantec Corp., virus, virus writer, Y2K
Research articles 1999-12-07
SafeNet Announces Integrated Anti-Virus Solution for Unified Security Appliances; QuickSec Anti-Virus Provides Advanced Anti-Virus Protection for Network Equipment OEMs
BALTIMORE -- SafeNet, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFNT), setting the standard for information security, today announced the availability of QuickSec Unified Anti-Virus, an advanced anti-virus solution that enables network equipment manufacturers to add an effective defense against virus threats to their security appliances.
Tags: antivirus, network, network equipment, SafeNet Inc.
Research articles 2005-11-23
PC Tools Now Offers a Reliable Free Version of Anti-Virus Software Helping Consumers Bypass Rogue Virus Vendors
This New Anti-Virus Product is Late Christmas Gift From This Award-Winning Internet Security Firm
Tags: antivirus, virus
Research articles 2006-12-27
Microsoft Word macro virus no immediate cause for alarm says IBM
STERLING FOREST, N.Y.--BUSINESS WIRE--August 31, 1995--A new computer virus, called the WordMacro.Concept virus, was discovered recently. It exclusively infects Microsoft Word documents and templates.
Tags: IBM Corp., Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Word, virus
Research articles 1995-08-31
Trend Micro Participates in the First Meeting of Asian Anti-Virus Researchers; Group Formed to Improve Cooperation Among Anti-Virus Researchers
CUPERTINO, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Sept. 15, 1998--Trend Micro Inc., the leader in centrally managed virus protection, participated in the first meeting of AVAR (Asian Anti-Virus Researchers), held in Hong Kong on September 4, 1998. AVAR was formed in June this year to improve the cooperation among anti-virus researchers in the region. The...
Tags: antivirus, Trend Micro Inc.
Research articles 1998-09-15
ESET's NOD32 Achieves 34th Consecutive Virus Bulletin 100% Award; NOD32 Is Recognized for Flawless Virus Protection; Performs Scans Five Times Faster than Symantec Antivirus
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- ESET, a global security software company providing next-generation malware protection, today announced that their flagship product, NOD32, received its 34th consecutive Virus Bulletin 100% award for flawless virus protection. NOD32 is the only solution worldwide that has not missed a single "In the Wild" worm or...
Tags: antivirus, Symantec Corp., virus, virus protection
Research articles 2005-11-08
Transplantation Safety: New Virus Detected Using Roche's Genome Sequencer Technology
BASEL, Switzerland -- 454 Life Sciences, a part of Roche Applied Science, today announced that researchers at Columbia University and Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory have discovered a new virus that was responsible for the deaths of three transplant recipients. The research explains how the previously unknown virus, which is...
Tags: Roche Holding AG, virus
Research articles 2008-02-07
McAfee Protects Web Surfers From Internet Virus Threat; New WebScan Works With Leading Web Browsers To Prevent The Download Of Virus-Infected Files And E-Mail; Detects Macro Viruses Hidden in Files Attached to Internet E-Mail Messages
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Nov. 6, 1995--McAfee (NASDAQ:MCAF) today announced WebScan, the first anti-virus software utility to prevent Internet computer users from downloading virus-infected files and e-mail. In addition to detecting traditional virus types, WebScan has the unique ability to detect macro viruses such as the new Winword.concept virus that...
Tags: e-mail, Internet, Internet e-mail, McAfee Inc., virus, Web
Research articles 1995-11-06
McAfee Licenses Anti-Virus Technology to Microsoft; Companies Partner to Combat Internet Computer Viruses; Extends McAfee's Worldwide Anti-Virus Market Leadership
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--June 26, 1996--McAfee (Nasdaq: MCAF), the world's leading vendor of anti-virus software, today announced that it has licensed portions of its anti-virus technology to Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT). Under the terms of the agreement, McAfee's anti-virus technology will be incorporated into future Microsoft Internet software products.
Tags: antivirus, computer virus, leadership, McAfee Inc., Microsoft Corp., virus
Research articles 1996-06-26
Trend Micro Announces First E-Mail Virus Protection For HP-UX; Also Scans Web and FTP Traffic
CUPERTINO, Calif.--BUSINESS WIRE--Nov. 27, 1996--Trend Micro Incorporated, a leader in server-based virus protection, today announced it has ported its InterScan VirusWall virus protection software to Hewlett Packard Company's enterprise-class UNIX operating system, HP-UX -- the first virus protection available for this platform.
Tags: e-mail, FTP, Trend Micro Inc., virus, virus protection, Web
Research articles 1996-11-27
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