Is a computer virus alive?

Question

There are similarities b/n a computer virus and human virus. A computer virus can spread from computer to computer, just as a flu, for instance, can spread from person to person. A computer virus can lie in a computer without being active, just as a person can have a virus and not be aware of it. A human virus is a string of coded information surrounded by proteins. A computer virus is also coded information, stored by electricity.
Thank you for your answers.
Source- A young person's guide to philosophy.

Answer 1

Viruses themselves are not alive. Most virologists consider them non-living, as they do not meet all the criteria of the generally accepted definition of life. They are similar to obligate intracellular parasites as they lack the means for self-reproduction outside a host cell, but unlike parasites, viruses are generally not considered to be true living organisms. Among other factors, viruses do not possess a cell membrane or metabolise on their own.

compter viruses are not alive either.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

Although the argument of a computer program being alive is a rising subject, a program is NOT alive.

A computer program is a set of commands that are given for a purpose.
A computer virus is a program that "infects" other .exe's and becomes part of that .exe and in the process replicates itself. The virus only exists inside infected executables, hence that’s why its called a virus. Which is also the same as biological viruses which needs a host to survive... just the same as a computer virus hence that’s where the name comes from.

You should ask the question, is a computer virus artificial life? Because it is not at all life in any biological scene.

I would agree they are a type of artificial life, but computer virus’s are not ALIVE because they have no scene of what they are doing or why, they just do the things they do because they were told to. Things that are alive have a SCENCE of why they do things and can change or (have a choice) on what they do.

Answer 4

No it isn't alive in the normal sense that the term alive is used. A computer virus is a code which has a malicious objective and is activated in the same way as other computer programs but initially without the operators knowledge.

Answer 5

nope, no virus is considered alive. A biological virus is a protien coat and dna/Rna, a computer virus is replicated info, like if you made a program that automatically pastes the word 'hi' over and over into a text document

Answer 6

i love your philosophical comparison, but one thing you need to know is that biological viruses are not alive.

the only difference between a computer virus and a regular virus is the same as what is different about every virus: what it infects, and the effects it causes on what it infects.

Answer 7

It's called virus because it can only replicate itself and infect others with some host providing most of means to do so. That's the only similarities. So I guess methodology is only similarity between them, but no physical similarties.

Answer 8

No, they aren't alive. Also, computer viruses do not exactly have to TAKE OVER any files on a computer to be "alive" as viruses have to take over cells in your body. They can create their own "cells" or files in order to take control of your computer.

Answer 9

But a computer virus is not biological.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, you have the wrong definition of alive. Scientifically, "alive" refers to an organism. Your view is digital. Sorry, but that doesn't work.