macro virus

macro virus

[¦mak·rō ′vī·rəs]

(computer science)

A virus that hides inside document and spreadsheet files used by popular word processing and spreadsheet applications.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

macro virus

A virus that is written in a macro language and placed within a document. Viruses have to be "run" in order to do things. When the document is opened and the macro is executed, commands in the macro language do the destruction or the prank. Thankfully, most viruses are harmless. Let's pray they stay that way! See Word macro virus, letter bomb, virus and macro.

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