Macro virus

A MAC or Macro virus is a computer virus that spreads to other computers through software programs that utilize macros. For example, Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are two popular and widely used programs that are capable of executing macros. Macro viruses written for these programs can spread by infecting other related documents each time the document is open. Because these files are commonly used and sent through e-mail, a computer network can be quickly infected by these viruses.

Logic Bomb

A logic bomb is a piece of code inserted into an operating system or software application that implements a malicious function after a certain amount of time, or specific conditions are met. Logic bombs are often used with viruses, worms, and Trojan horses to time them to do maximum damage before being noticed. They perform actions like corrupting or altering data, reformatting a hard drive, and deleting important files.

zoo

1. When referring to a computer virus, a zoo is a location, such as a website, that contains a collection of computer viruses.

2. Zoo is a computer filename extension and compression program.

Overwrite

1. In general, overwrite is a term used to describe when new information replaces old information or data.

2. One of two typing settings on a keyboard, overwrite mode allows new input to replace existing characters. The Insert keyboard key is commonly used to toggle this mode, enabling or disabling it. If you've overwritten any text it can be undone by using undo in most programs.

3. When referring to a virus, an overwrite virus is a computer virus that overwrites a file with its own code, helping spread the virus to other files and computers.

Polymorphic virus

A polymorphic virus creates an infection in a computer that is known as a polymorphic infection. A polymorphic virus is one that creates copies of itself, with variations in each copy to fool a virus detection program and user. The variations are typically different encryption methods in the virus file copies, which makes it more difficult for a virus detection program to detect and remove a polymorphic virus from a computer.

Polymorphic infections are difficult for virus detection programs to cleanse because one polymorphic virus could have hundreds or thousands of variants. Developers that design the detection programs have to write extra lines of code in order to make the programs better at detecting the virus infections. Even the best antivirus programs have trouble with detecting and cleansing polymorphic infections, although antivirus programs with heuristic do have a better time at detecting these types of viruses.

MBR virus

A MBR virus is a computer virus that modifies or infects the Master Boot Record, causing the computer to lose CD-ROM support or cause Microsoft Windows to run in compatibility mode.

Multipart virus

A multipart virus is a computer virus that infects the master boot record as well as executable files on the hard drive.