Macro virus

A macro virus is a type of malicious computer code (malware) that is placed into documents or files that use the macros (tiny programs) of applications like Microsoft Office and Corel Word Perfect. Macro viruses use the default security settings of these programs to alter the document and allow the virus to spread itself. Macro viruses utilize the functionality of macro programming languages embedded in word processors, email programs, and other applications to propagate from one computer system to another.

The macro virus was first discovered in 1995 by Ilfak Guilfanov. One of the best-known macro viruses was the Melissa virus, which spread through email. It would attach itself as a Word document and when opened, would send itself to addresses in the user’s address book.

Once infected, a user’s computer may exhibit many signs of infection, including changes in the computer’s settings, the appearance of strange files, or system crashes. In addition, since the virus makes unique copies of itself when it spreads, it can spread faster than other types of malware.

Macro viruses are generally easy to detect with the help of antivirus software. It is important that users keep their operating system and applications up-to-date in order to minimize the chances of infection. In addition, users should avoid opening files from untrusted sources, as these are often infected with macro viruses.