virus

css/layout.css

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 dt { font-weight: bold }
 
-/* pre { margin-left: -50px } */
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 #container
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 #query, #query:hover, #cse-search-box input[type='text']
 {
     float: left;
-    width: 43.5em;
-    max-width: 88%;
+    width: 76%;
+    max-width: 579px;
     height: 40px;
     padding: 0 10px !important;
     font-family: 'Belgrano',serif;

new/Dictionary

@@ -174735,49 +174735,32 @@ Virtual Telecommunications Access Method
 
 virus
 
-	<security> (By analogy with biological viruses, via science
-	fiction) A program or piece of code, a type of {malware},
-	written by a {cracker}, that "infects" one or more other
-	programs 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.
-
-	A virus has an "engine" - code that enables it to propagate
-	and optionally a "payload" - what it does apart from
-	propagating.  It needs a "host" - the particular hardware and
-	software environment on which it can run and a "trigger" - the
-	event that starts it running.
-
-	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 {display hacks}).  Viruses
-	written by particularly antisocial {crackers} may do
-	irreversible damage, like deleting files.
-
-	By the 1990s, viruses had become a serious problem, especially
-	among {IBM PC} and {Macintosh} users (the lack of security on
-	these machines enables viruses to spread easily, even
-	infecting the operating system).  The production of special
-	{antivirus software} has become an industry, and a number of
-	exaggerated media reports have caused outbreaks of near
-	hysteria among users.  Many {lusers} tend to blame
-	*everything* that doesn't work as they had expected on virus
-	attacks.  Accordingly, this sense of "virus" has passed into
-	popular usage where it is often incorrectly used for other
-	types of {malware} such as {worms} or {Trojan horses}.
-
-	See {boot virus}, {phage}.  Compare {back door}.  See also
-	{Unix conspiracy}.
+	<security> A commonly used term for any kind of {malware}.
+
+	Originally, by analogy with biological viruses, via science fiction, "virus"
+	meant software that "infects" other	programs by embedding a copy of itself in
+	them, so that they become {Trojan horses}.  Executing an infected program would run
+	the virus too, allowing it to propagate, normally without the user's knowledge.
+
+	A virus has an "engine" - code that enables it to propagate - and may also have a "payload"
+	- what it does apart from propagating.  It needs a "host" the particular hardware and
+	software environment on which it can run and a "trigger" - the event that starts it running.
+
+	Unlike a {worm}, a virus cannot infect other computers without assistance.
+	It is propagated by vectors such as users downloading infected software.
+
+	Viruses written by particularly antisocial {crackers} may do
+	damage, like deleting files or encrypting them for {ransomware}.
+
+	By the 1990s, viruses had become a serious problem, especially among {Windows}
+	users.  The production of special {antivirus software} became an industry
+	in itself, until it finally became a default part of the operating system.
+
+	See {boot virus}, {phage}.  Compare {back door}.  See also {Unix conspiracy}.
 
 	[{Jargon File}]
 
-	(2003-06-20)
+	(2024-01-21)
 
 viruses
 

template.html

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 	<link
 		href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Duru+Sans%7CBelgrano%7CInconsolata%7CAlef%7CArmata"
 		rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
-	<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/layout.css">
+	<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/layout.css?1">
 
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