[Ads-l] Antedating of "Computer Virus"

[dave@wilton.net]

Plain "virus" in relation to computers, as opposed to "computer virus," is older. The OED has 1972 under "virus, n."
 
Although that 1972 usage in David Gerrold's novel "When Harlie Was One" is a program titled "VIRUS" rather than a generic noun.
 
There's also a 1975 usage in Brunner's "Shockwave Rider," which also has the first use of a computer "worm," that refers to the replicating portion of a computer program as a "virus facility."
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2023 6:32pm
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: [ADS-L] Antedating of "Computer Virus"



computer virus (OED 1984)

1973 _Shreveport Journal_ 18 Sept/ 2A/2 (Newspapers.com) He's expecting to make a bundle out of the situation by selling a vaccine which will cure the compute Virus and keep the machines from getting it again.

Fred Shapiro

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