Since then, computer viruses have mimicked their biological namesakes, spreading digital disease around the world. And, here at IBM Research, we are taking inspiration from biological defenses to viruses and creating a kind of immune system for cyberspace, which will be able to find, analyze and eliminate new computer viruses from the world's computers quickly and automatically. Alex Haddox is product manager of the Symantec AntiVirus Research Center, which manufactures Norton AntiVirus products. Computer viruses can insert themselves in another program, taking over control or adversely effecting the function of the program. Like their biological counterparts, computer viruses can spread rapidly and self-replicate systematically.
Most viruses act innocuous towards a system until their specific condition is met.
The computer industry has expanded the metaphor to now include terms like inoculation, disinfection, quarantine and sanitation.