Computer Viruses (anonymous) The term usually used to define a computer virus is: ' A computer virus is often malicious software which replicates itself' [ Podell 1987 for similar definition ] - COMPUTER VIRUSES ARE BASICALLY PROGRAMS, LIKE A SPREADSHEET OR A WORD PROCESSOR. - PROGRAMS WHICH CAN INSERT EXECUTABLE COPIES OF ITSELF INTO OTHER PROGRAMS. - PROGRAMS THAT MANIPULATES PROGRAMS, MODIFIES OTHER PROGRAMS AND REPRODUCE ITSELF IN THE PROCESS. However, " computer virus " is just another name for a class o