Viruses are programs that can damage or corrupt computer systems in various ways, such as program viruses, boot viruses, and network viruses. Common virus types include Trojans, worms, and Wdll32. Antivirus software protects systems from virus infections by providing security from malicious programs. However, retroviruses can corrupt or damage antivirus programs. Popular antivirus companies mentioned include Norton, MacAfee, Quick heal, Kaspersky, AVG, Avast, Avira, Escan, and K7.