How is a computer virus similar to a biological virus?

A computer virus is similar to a biological virus in that they both reproduce by infecting other systems. Just like a biological virus invades a host organism to replicate and spread, a computer virus attaches itself to other files or programs on a computer system. Once it has infected a host system, the computer virus can spread to other systems or files, much like how a biological virus can spread from one organism to another through physical interaction or contact.

The mechanisms of infection and replication are central to their definitions. A biological virus uses the host's cellular machinery to replicate itself, while a computer virus uses coding to integrate into programs and files, thereby creating copies of itself within other systems.

Understanding this comparison helps highlight the infectious nature of both types of viruses, emphasizing the need for protective measures, whether through antivirus software for computers or vaccinations for biological viruses.