What is a computer virus?

It is an executable code able to reproduce itself. Viruses are an area of pure programming, and, unlike other computer programs, can intellectual functions on protection from being found and destroyed. They have to fight for survival in complex conditions of conflicting computer systems. That's why they evolve as if they were alive.

Yes, viruses seem to be the only alive organisms in the computer environment, and yet another their main goal is survival. That is why they may have complex crypting/ decrypting engines, which is indeed a sort of a standard for computer viruses nowadays, in order to carry out processes of duplicating, adaptation and disguise.

It is necessary to differentiate between reproducing programs and Trojan horses. Reproducing programs will not necessarily harm your system because they are aimed at producing as many copies (or somewhat-copies) of their own as possible by means of so-called agent programs or without their help. In the later case they are referred to as "worms".

Meanwhile Trojan horses are programs aimed at causing harm or damage to PC's. Certainly it's a usual practice, when they are part of "tech-organism", bat they have completely different functions.

That is an important point. Destructive actions are not an integral part of the virus by default. However virus-writers allow presence of destructive mechanisms as an active protection from finding and destroying their creatures, as well as a response to the attitude of society to viruses and their authors.

As you see, there are different types of viruses, and they have already been separated into classes and categories. For instance: dangerous, harmless, and very dangerous. No destruction means a harmless one, tricks with system halts means a dangerous one, and finally with a devastating destruction means a very dangerous virus.

But viruses are famous not only for their destructive actions, but also for their special effects, which are almost impossible to classify. Some virus-writers suggest the following: funny, very funny and sad or melancholy (keeps silence and infects). But one should remember that special effects must occur only after a certain number of contaminations. Users should also be given a chance to restrict execution of destructive actions, such as deleting files, formatting hard disks. Thereby virus can be considered to be a useful program, keeping a check on system changes and preventing any surprises such as of deletion of files or wiping out hard disks.

It sounds quite heretical to say such words about viruses, which are usually considered to be a disaster. The less person understands in programming and virology, the greater influence will have on him possibility of being infected with a virus. Thus, let's consider creators of viruses as the best source.

Who writes computer viruses? They are lone wolves or programmers groups.

In spite of the fact that a lot of people think, that to write a computer virus is a hardship, it is no exactly so. Using special programs called "Virus creators" even beginners in computer world can build their own viruses, which will be a strain of a certain major virus. This is precisely the case with notorious virus "Anna Cumikova", which is actually a worm. The aim of creation of viruses in such way is pretty obvious: the author wants to become well known all over the world and to show his powers.

Somehow, the results of the attempt can be very sad (see a bit of history), only real professionals can go famous and stay uncaught. A good example is Dark Avenger. Yes, and it's yet another custom of participants of "the scene" - to take terrifying monikers (nicknames).

To write something really new and remarkable programmer should have some extra knowledge and skills, for example:

1) good strategic thinking and intuition - releasing a virus and its descendants live their own independent life in nearly unpredictable conditions. Therefore the author must anticipate a lot of things;

2) splendid knowledge of language of the Assembler and the operating system he writes for - the more there are mistakes in the virus the quicker its will be caught;

3) attention to details and a skill to solve the most varied tactical questions - one won't write a compact, satisfactory working program without this abilities;

4) a high professional discipline in order to join preceding points together.

A computer virus group is an informal non-profit organisation, uniting programmers-authors of viruses regardless of their qualifications. Everyone can become a member of the club, if he creates viruses, studies them for the reason of creation and spreading.

The aims they pursue together may after from that of a single virus writer, although they usually also try to become as famous as possible. But in the same time they may render help to beginning programmers in the field of viruses and spread commented sources of viruses and virus algorithm descriptions.

One can't say that all of the group members write viruses in Assembler. Actually, you don't have to know any computer language or write any program code to become a member or a friend of the group. But programming in Assembler is preferred, Pascal, C++ and other high level languages are considered to be humiliating. It does make sense since programs compiled in Assembler are much smaller (0.5-5 kb) and therefore more robust. On the other hand Assembler is quite difficult to understand especially for beginners. One should think in the way computer does: all commands are send directly to the central processing unit of PC.

There are computer virus groups all over the world, few being more successful than others. It may be pretty hard to get in contact with them since they are quite typical representatives of computer underground world as well as (free)wares groups. Sometimes, however, creating viruses can become a respectable occupation, bringing constant income. After all, no one but the author of the virus can bring valuable information on the way it should be treated and cured.

III. Match the words with their meanings:

1. successful 2. regardless 3. to prefer 4. mistake 5. precisely 6. remarkable 7. possibility 8. executable 9. survival 10. description

a) примечательный b) предпочитать c) ошибка d) возможность, способность e) выполнимый f) описание g) успешный h) ничтожный i) выживание j) точно

IV. Match the words and definitions listed below:

1. a detonator 2. an infector 3. to boot 4. to trigger 5. to erase 6. pirated 7. a shield 8. to detect

a) a protective device b) to remove all traces of something c) a device used to set off an explosion or other destructive process d) to discover or recognize that something is present e) to set a process in motion f) something which transmits a disease or virus g) stolen, obtained without the owner ‘s consent h) to load the operating system into memory