What is another word for computer virus?
Pronunciation: [kəmpjˈuːtə vˈa͡ɪɹəs] (IPA) 
A computer virus is a malicious software program that is designed to infect a computer system without user permission. There are several synonymous terms that can be used to describe a virus, such as malware, worm, Trojan horse, adware, spyware, ransomware, and rootkit. Malware is a broad term that describes any harmful software that damages a computer system. A worm is a virus that spreads by replicating itself and spreading over networks. A Trojan horse is a virus that disguises itself as legitimate software to trick users into downloading it. Adware is a virus that displays unwanted ads on a computer screen. Spyware is a virus that secretly collects and sends personal information to hackers. Ransomware is a virus that locks users out of their files and asks for payment in exchange for their release. A rootkit is a virus that exploits system vulnerabilities to gain administrative access and control over a computer system.
