virus

Definition: Small program designed to enter a computer system undetected and then cause a nuisance or worse; thousands are known for PC-compatible machines. * Can infect a computer when (a) floppy or other disks are shared (b) when files are downloaded from the Internet (c) when files are shared across a network from an infected source (d) when attachments to e-mails are opened or downloaded (e) as macros to application programmes. * The (relatively few) viruses that infect Apple Macs may also be referred to, inaccurately, as 'worms'.

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