Glossary of Terms

algorithms – techniques used to hide viruses from anti-virus programs

attachment – a file that can be opened from inside another file or e-mail

attack phase – when the virus starts damaging the computer

back door - a feature in a program that gives the author special access to the system that others could not normally access.

boot - the initial startup of the computer when the operating system loads its files.

boot sector – the system sector; this is where a small program (on an uninfected computer) tells the system to load the operating system from the hard drive normally.

boot virus – infects system sectors of hard disks

bootable disk - a floppy disk that can be inserted into your hard drive, allowing you to access your computer incase of a malfunction that inhibits the boot.

bug - an error in a program that causes it to do something that neither the author or user intended.

code - a pattern of symbols that provide instructions for what a program should do

computer virus – any program that replicates itself to other executable files so that its code is executed whenever the infected executable file is run.

CPU cycles – a cycle is one mathematical "circle" in a computer, where a certain number of math equations are performed.  (a 500Mhz computer can do 500 million cycles a second, etc.)

detection – the term for recognizing a viral infection

DOS boot sector (DBS) – the system sector, much like the boot sector, that tells your computer to load DOS (disk operating system)

executable file – EXE, BAT, COM

file virus – infect programs and spread when the programs are executed

floppy disk - a form of digitally recordable media -- (note: floppy disks are physically "floppy" on the inside, but today's disks have a hard cover).  

format – indicates the operating medium that a program runs or exists in.  (picture files may be in GIF, JPG, or several other formats.  A virus can "re-format" your hard drive, erasing it)

graphic files – JPG, GIF, BMP, EPS, or any other picture file.

hard disk - the mass storage device inside your computer (usually the C: drive)

hoax – a message sent by e-mail, warning about a terrible new virus that usually doesn’t exist, and asks people to forward it on

infection phase – when the virus first get into the computer

master boot record (MBR) – the main system sector. (see "system sector" / "boot record")

joke – a program that looks like a virus when open and has some sort of virus message on it but does no real damage

load - the time frame or action in which a program is copied to the computers memory and executed.

macro virus – virus that infects files that look like data files but have macro language programmed into them.  (spreadsheet, word processor, and database files can all be infected by macro viruses)

mem-resident virus – (short for memory resident) -- a virus that stays in the memory so as to control computer commands

network – computers that have been connected together to easily transfer data.

network virus – virus that travels over a network and automatically spread through systems

non-bootable - a disk that cannot be used to start the computer

non-executable files – graphic, data, text, or music files are some good examples

operating system (OS) - the program that controls all of the software to hardware interaction (Microsoft Windows 98, MAC OS, Linux, etc)

payload - the destructive mechanism of a virus, usually activates after a certain period of time.

polymorphic virus – virus that changes its code each time it is transmitted

replicate – make copies and copies of copies and so on

self-replicating – a program that copies itself to other programs

stealth virus – uses techniques to hide itself from anti-virus programs

system resources – the term for available "speed" such as unused RAM or processor cycles.

trigger – anything that makes a virus follow a specific command; it could be a date, time, counter in the program, etc

trojan – any non-replicating damaging computer program

virus - a program that replicates its code into executable files

VisualBasic Script (VBS) – a fairly common programming language, used recently in the email worm viruses, such as Love Letter.