Virus = replicating program?

I think that the definition of a computer virus is a bit too wide.

Why? Because a virus is a program which was created to be malicious and destructive, not just something that replicates itself. Why sometime could replicate itself while not doing anything to harm the host system, besides taking up hard-drive space, but if thats waht its meant for (Taking up space) then they should change the definition to that.

What do you say about this guys?

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A program taking up hard drive space is malicious, and destructive. It's taking away the space that you have paid for, and in turn costs you money.

 

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Nevermind eventually using all free space and making your system unstable and unusable.

 

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yeah, but most of the worst programs Delete files, freeing up space... although the space they freeded up was once the home of sensitive data, and much needed O/S files.

Then most of them are doing allot more than replicating, it seems it only copies itself a few times, then it concentrates on doing what it needs to do, and that all the other malicous stuff.

 

And which *the* definition would that be? The definition you gave is indeed a bit wide. The definition in the Jargon file, which imho is the only definition which can claim to be *the* definition, however is perfect:

The Virus entry from the Jargon file (aka New Hacker's Dictionary):

"virus n.

[from the obvious analogy with biological viruses, via SF] A cracker program that searches out other programs and `infects' them by embedding a copy of itself in them, so that they become Trojan horses. When these programs are executed, the embedded virus is executed too, thus propagating the `infection'. This normally happens invisibly to the user. Unlike a worm, a virus cannot infect other computers without assistance. It is propagated by vectors such as humans trading programs with their friends (see SEX). The virus may do nothing but propagate itself and then allow the program to run normally. Usually, however, after propagating silently for a while, it starts doing things like writing cute messages on the terminal or playing strange tricks with the display (some viruses include nice display hacks). Many nasty viruses, written by particularly perversely minded crackers, do irreversible damage, like nuking all the user's files."

 

Dictionary.Com's Definition of "Computer Virus"

Merriam-Webster Online - "Virus"

Look, they both mention replication and destruction.
Now this thread is useless because it was based on the ideal that dictionaries Did-not say anything about distruction...

Look at me, stpuid as can be. I try to make a post and get chewed out by anyone who responds...

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That's the best definition !

Sir Aristrotle, you give 2 definitions that show that you were wrong in your first post : virus don't have to be malicious ! They have some indirect negative consequences (stolen space and/or CPU) but they don't always have a destructive part.
In fact, Worms - that are a kind of "virus" - are generally disarmed.

 

lovgate virus

I got a virus on my computer once. it said I was low on memory and it turned out that the lovgate virus (version g) had created 5,093 files. One in every sub directory on my hard drive. Not to mention that it also created outgoing messages that would have been sent had I not noticed them before send/recieving.