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20 Years of Virii

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the vaccination-please dept.

DenOfEarth writes "News.com has an article outlining that it was around twenty years ago that a computer security reasearcher coined the term 'virus', and how the things have been running amok. Interestingly enough, when said researcher applyed for research funding to look into a blanket solution to this possible 'virus' problem, he was turned down."

4 of 472 comments (clear)

  1. I know what you're thinking... by Sheetrock · · Score: 0, Redundant
    'Virii' is not a word.

    However, while it is an improper Latin conjugation of 'virum', it is the proper term for a collection of computer malware (recognized since 1996.)

    --

    Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
    -- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.




  2. English lessons. by Phanatic1a · · Score: 0, Redundant

    'Virii' is not the plural of 'virus.' 'Virii' is not even a word.

    There is 'vari' in Latin, but it's the nominative plural of 'vir,' meaning 'man.' There's also a Latin form of 'virus,' 'viri,' but it's not a nominative plural, it's a genitive singular.

    For there to be plural 'virii,' there must first be a singular 'virius.' There isn't. The proper plural of 'virus' is 'viruses.'

  3. Virii is _not_ a word by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The plural of "virus" is neither "viri" nor "virii", nor even "vira" nor "virora". It is quite simply "viruses", irrespective of context. See here

  4. As you know, the plural of virus is viruses by hacker · · Score: 0, Redundant

    There is no such word ' virii ', and in fact, the plural of ' virus ' is ' viruses ', not 'virii'. Read on for more details about the proper way to use the word ' virus '.</fud>