A computer virus is a form of malicious software that piggybacks onto legitimate application code in order to spread and reproduce itself.

From macro viruses and boot sector viruses to droppers and packers, here’s a look at 9 common virus types, what they do, and the function they perform for attackers.

A common alternative description of malware is 'computer virus' -- although there are big differences between these types of malicious programs. What was the first computer virus?

Lifehacker's tech-savvy readers are the first people on speed-dial when it's time to heal an infected PC, but how much do you really know about viruses, spyware, scareware, trojans, and worms ...

And because the virus spreads through close personal contact, officials thought they could reliably trace its spread by interviewing infected people and asking who they had been intimate with.