Effects of viruses on the individual, organisation, and society at large

Certain viruses deliberately damage files or the computer's operation, while others just try to spread themselves around. Nevertheless, the ones that just spread themselves are just as harmful, since they damage files and may cause other problems in the process of spreading. (Note that viruses can't do any damage to hardware: they won't melt down your CPU, burn out your hard drive, cause your monitor to explode, etc. Warnings about viruses that will physically destroy your computer are usually hoaxes, not legitimate virus warnings.)

I. Implications on public policy.

III. Personal Privacy

II. Implications for business and the government