A computer virus primer

There has been considerable interest of late in computer viruses. Much of the information available is either of a highly theoretical nature, or describes a specific set of viruses. Neither is useful for providing an overview of how computer viruses work or how to protect against them. This report is a condensed explanation of viruses-their history, structure, and some information on how to deal with their threat. It should provide a general introduction to the topic without requiring the understanding of excessive detail. The interested reader is directed to the book from which this report is derived for further information, including references to related works and sources, more technical detail, and information on some of the legal aspects of computer viruses: Computer Viruses: Dealing with Electronic Vandalism and Programmed Threats, E. H. Spafford, K. A. Heaphy, and D. J. Ferbrache, ADAPSO, 1989.