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Source code virus
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<p>Source code viruses are a subset of <a href="/facts/Computer_viruses/IyTC1usq">computer viruses</a> that make modifications to <a href="/facts/Source_code/o9J6Jv23">source code</a> located on an infected machine. A source file can be overwritten such that it includes a call to some malicious code. By targeting a generic programming language, such as <a href="/facts/C_/Ky2No763">C</a>, source code viruses can be very <a href="/facts/Software_portability/tWKVGCBb">portable</a>. Source code viruses are rare, partly due to the difficulty of parsing source code programmatically, but have been reported to exist. </p><p>One such virus (W32/Induc-A) was identified by anti-virus specialist <a href="/facts/Sophos/6oHmdqg0">Sophos</a> as capable of injecting itself into the source code of any Delphi program it finds on an infected computer, and then compiles itself into a finished executable. </p>