A computer virus is classified as:

Concept

Computer threats are classified by what they are and how they operate. Hardware means physical components, whereas software means executable instructions or code. A biological pathogen belongs to a different domain.

Application

A computer virus is a malicious program or code that can copy itself and spread by attaching to other files or programs. Because it is code executed by a computer, it belongs to software.

Contrast

• Hardware consists of tangible components; a virus is not a physical computer part.

• Bacteria are living single-celled organisms; a computer virus is non-living code, not a biological organism.

• The listed category Software already includes programs and executable code, so rejecting every listed category is unnecessary.

Result

A computer virus is classified as software.