“What’s in a name?” That was the question computer virus experts were asking each other at a panel discussion of virus naming conventions at Virus Bulletin 2003 (VB2003), an annual gathering of the ...

Disagreements about what and how to name new worms and viruses have produced a confusing system in which antivirus companies often compete to be the first to name a new virus and in which the same ...

Scientists who discover new viruses usually choose their names following ICTV guidelines. Virus names can be inspired by geography, host species, mythology, language, and biology. More than 320,000 ...