virus

Meaning: a harmful computer program that can spread from one machine to another

For example:

Most viruses are spread when sent as email attachments, and they're activated when the recipient clicks on the program's icon.
If you want to avoid the hassle of dealing with computer viruses, get a Mac computer. Very few viruses target Macs.

Origin: These programs are called viruses because they act in ways very similar to biological viruses, in that they damage the host and they can spread from host to host.

Quick Quiz:

If a virus attacks a computer, a good strategy is to

take it to a hospital
throw the computer away
do a system restore or OS reinstallation

Discuss: virus

Slang of the Day

This entry is in the following categories:

Slang/V
Slang/Computer
Slang/Quizzes/Computer