... like I'm 5 years old
Computer viruses are like a flu bug that you might catch from your friend or family member. Instead of infecting people, these viruses infect computers. They can spread from one device to another, often through emails, downloads, and even from visiting certain websites. Once a computer virus gets into a computer, it can cause all sorts of problems. Some viruses might slow your computer down, while others can delete or corrupt important files. Worst-case scenario, a particularly nasty virus might even wipe your entire hard drive clean.
Think of it as a sneeze. When someone with the flu sneezes without covering their mouth, the germs can spread to anyone nearby. Similarly, an infected computer can 'sneeze' a virus onto other devices, which then get sick themselves.
... like I'm in College
A virus is a type of malicious software, or malware, that self-replicates by copying itself to another program. In other words, a virus spreads by attaching itself to legitimate software or documents, effectively "hitching a ride". This can be anything from word documents, spreadsheets, to program files.
When the infected software or document is opened, the hidden computer virus is activated. From here, it can disrupt the normal functionality of your computer. This could mean causing your computer to run slowly, deleting files, or capturing your keystrokes.
Moreover, a computer virus can make copies of itself, spreading to other computers via network connections, e-mails, or carried in a USB drive. It's like a parasite that keeps growing and spreading unless it's stopped.
Imagine your computer is a huge, complex Lego structure. It's made up of many different parts, each with a specific role in keeping the structure intact. A computer virus is like a rogue Lego piece that doesn't fit the structure but forces itself in anyway.
When this rogue piece is added to the structure, it can cause other pieces to fall out of place, weakening the whole structure. This is similar to how a virus can corrupt files or slow down your computer.
Furthermore, just like how one rogue piece can lead to more if it's part of a set, a computer virus can replicate itself and infect other parts of your computer and even other computers.
And just as the rogue Lego piece can be removed to restore the structure, computer viruses can be removed with antivirus software to restore your computer's functionality.
... like I'm an expert
From a technical standpoint, computer viruses are programs or pieces of code that are loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and run against your wishes. They are often embedded in executable files or documents and are activated when these files are opened. Upon activation, a virus can execute any instruction in its code, from displaying a harmless message to deleting files or formatting the hard drive.
Furthermore, some viruses are programmed to do damage at specific times, like the infamous Friday the 13th virus, which only activated and did damage on Friday the 13th. Others, like polymorphic viruses, can even change their code to avoid detection by antivirus software.