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Title: computer viruses: the abstract theory revisited.

Abstract: Identifying new viral threats, and developing long term defences against current and future computer viruses, requires an understanding of their behaviour, structure and capabilities. This paper aims to advance this understanding by further developing the abstract theory of computer viruses. A method of providing abstract definitions for classes of viruses is presented in this paper, which addresses inadequacies of previous techniques. Formal definitions for some classes of viruses are then provided, which correspond to existing informal definitions. To relate the abstract theory to the real world, the connection between the abstract definitions and concrete virus implementations is examined. The use of the proposed method in studying the fundamental properties of computer viruses is discussed.

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Computer Viruses, Computer Worms, and the Self-Replication of Programs

• First Online: 31 March 2023

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• Rafael Ball 2  

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Computer viruses are almost as old as computers themselves. The first technical paper about computer viruses appeared in 1984 and described a self-replicating computer program that reproduces and spreads automatically. The direct comparison and analogy-building between technical (computer) viruses and biologically effective viruses tempt us, via intentional or unintentional linguistic analogies, to see or even construct similarities in content, function, and structure between the two systems. In fact, however, we find a startling parallelism between the two systems.

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Rafael Ball

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Ball, R. (2023). Computer Viruses, Computer Worms, and the Self-Replication of Programs. In: Viruses in all Dimensions. Springer, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-38826-3_4

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-38826-3_4

Published : 31 March 2023

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Library Hi Tech News

ISSN : 0741-9058

Article publication date: 14 September 2012

The purpose of this paper is to discuss various types of computer viruses, along with their characteristics, working, effects on the computer systems and to suggest measures for detecting the virus infection in a computer system and to elaborate means of prevention.

Design/methodology/approach

The author undertook an extensive study and review of the literature available online and on relevant web sites on the present topic.

A large number of viruses were found during the study, which are causing serious damages to computer systems. The author suggests ways to detect and prevent the different computer viruses.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on and limited to the study of the relevant literature available on different relevant web sites.

Practical implications

The research will benefit business organizations, business houses, educational institutions and libraries working in fully computerized environments, in detection of viruses and preventing infection of their computer systems.

Social implications

The society will also benefit by attaining knowledge about the different types of computer viruses and the measures of prevention of infection.

Originality/value

There are a number of studies and articles available on the topic but almost all of them appear to be incomplete in the sense that either they discuss only a limited number of known viruses or suggest only limited ways of prevention. The paper has made an attempt to discuss almost all the computer viruses and every possible way of prevention of infection from them.

• Computer viruses
• Data security
• Computer security
• Information security
• Security measures

Khan, I. (2012), "An introduction to computer viruses: problems and solutions", Library Hi Tech News , Vol. 29 No. 7, pp. 8-12. https://doi.org/10.1108/07419051211280036

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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