History Main / ComputerVirus

* In "Hard Drive Courage" in ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', the ComputerVirus is the MonsterOfTheWeek, causing the Computer to spark up in smokes, kidnapping Muriel into the Computer's hard drive, and attacking Courage when he enters the hard drive as well to save her. They feed it Muriel's special Gelatin, cauing its illness to go away and make it leave.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/virus_5609.PNG]]

* In the webseries for ''Toys/TheTrashPack'', computer viruses are treated like ''actual'' viruses to Scummy Screen, being a living computer himself. [[TooDumbToLive Of course, Trash-A-Pillar gives him one thanks to a link that said to click on it to download a virus and get one million dollars]]. Hey, it seems like a good deal at the time to both of them.

* ''VideoGame/Code7'' has [[spoiler: Code 7]]. It is currently unclear what it does, but everything hints that it will bring TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.

* ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux.Wifatch]]'' is a '''benign''' virus example of malware closing loopholes and fixing bugs on routers it infects. Symantec has monitored the network of "vaccinated" devices but, so far, has not seen it put to malicious use. It even leaves a message on the router telling its owner to change the default passwords and update the firmware that controls the device.

Also important to note, not all viruses are malicious, some are ''benign'' that cause your computer no damage and simply exist to spread bad jokes, messages or troll you. Even reportedly, malware actually making your system more secure and less vulnerable to flaws and back-doors.

* One type of malware derived from the concept of viruses is the E-mail delivered worm. One of the more infamous worms that stalked the Internet [[SchmuckBait lured schmucks into opening the infected payload]] by pretending to contain pictures of Anna Kournikova.

* ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' features [[spoiler:the Junko Enoshima AI, which operates as one and causes the entire plot, which all takes place inside a Matrix-like setting called the Neo World Program. She was installed into it by the protagonist's other self, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Izuru Kamukura]] and corrupted what was supposed to be a peaceful simulation designed to undo the cast's despair brainwashing by the original Junko Enoshima prior to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Tragedy]]. She further plans to use BrainUploading to [[BodySnatcher steal everyone's bodies]] and reincarnate into the organic world. For no real reason, she also plans to do this to the rest of the remainder of humanity [[MotiveDecay despite the fact this would only intensify her boredom]] when her entire reason for everything she did beforehand, including killing almost every human on Earth, was to not be bored.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/virus_5609.PNG]]]]

* ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' features [[spoiler:the Junko Enoshima AI, which operates as one and causes the entire plot, which all takes place inside a Matrix-like setting called the Neo World Program. She was installed into it by the protagonist's other self, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Izuru Kamukura]] and corrupted what was supposed to be a peaceful simulation designed to undo the cast's despair brainwashing by the original Junko Enoshima prior to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Tragedy]]. She further plans to use BrainUploading to [[BodySnatcher steal everyone's bodies]] and reincarnate into the organic world. For no real reason, she also plans to do this to the rest of the remainder of humanity [[VillainDecay despite the fact this would only intensify her boredom]] when her entire reason for everything she did beforehand, including killing almost every human on Earth, was to not be bored.]]

* ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' features [[spoiler:the Junko Enoshima AI, which operates as one and causes the entire plot, which all takes place inside a Matrix-like setting called the Neo World Program. She was installed into it by the protagonist's other self, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Izuru Kamukura]] and corrupted what was supposed to be a peaceful simulation designed to undo the cast's despair brainwashing by the original Junko Enoshima prior to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Tragedy]]. She further plans to use BrainUploading to [[BodySnatcher steal everyone's bodies]] and reincarnate into the organic world. For no real reason, she also plans to do this to the rest of the remainder of humanity [[VillanDecay despite the fact this would only intensify her boredom]] when her entire reason for everything she did beforehand, including killing almost every human on Earth, was to not be bored.]]

* ''VisualNovel/Dangaronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' features [[spoiler:the Junko Enoshima AI, which operates as one and causes the entire plot, which all takes place inside a Matrix-like setting called the Neo World Program. She was installed into it by the protagonist's other self, [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Izuru Kamukura]] and corrupted what was supposed to be a peaceful simulation designed to undo the cast's despair brainwashing by the original Junko Enoshima prior to [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Tragedy]]. She further plans to use BrainUploading to [[BodySnatcher steal everyone's bodies]] and reincarnate into the organic world. For no real reason, she also plans to do this to the rest of the remainder of humanity [[VillanDecay despite the fact this would only intensify her boredom]] when her entire reason for everything she did beforehand, including killing almost every human on Earth, was to not be bored.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/TheAnimeClub https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/virus_5609.PNG]]]]

* In ''Film/TheNet'', the main character is a computer programmer who collects the viruses that she combats. In one of the opening scenes, she's fixed a virus that was afflicting ''VideoGame/{{Wolfenstein 3D}}''.

[[folder:Web Original]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/{{Gunshow}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/virus_5609.PNG]]]]

** Cornficker: Updated itself automatically and killed off Anti-malware programs.

* ''Anime/YuGiOh'' does this early on: Seto Kaiba uses the supercomputer in his basement to whip up and send a computer virus that will weaken and destroy a hologram of his Blue Eyes White Dragon in only minutes. His method for finding a hole in Pegasus' security? Take over and literally [[ColonyDrop crash a satellite]] into the building housing the main servers.

* The favored tactic of Christopher Pelant on ''Series/Bones''. He's so skilled he can even carve malware on bones that activate when image-scanned into a computer.

* In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsReCoded'', System Sector floors are occasionally infected with a generic virus that increases enemy strength and forces you to bet 100% of your SP on the SelfImposedChallenge.

* WebVideo/{{Vinesauce}} streamer Joel is fond of intentionally downloading and executing these in his "Windows Destruction" streams, where he loads up Windows on a virtual machine and attempts to cripple it as much as possible. Some of his favorites include [[SchmuckBait .exe files disguised as .mp3 or .avi files]] (this is why just about every Windows technician ''strongly'' encourages users to disable the "Hide extensions for known file types" toggle) and ransomware that prevents the infected system from booting into any OS unless they obtain an unlock code from the author (which usually entails paying said author, hence the term).