Alabama (computer virus)

The Alabama virus is a computer virus that was prominent in the early 1990s. It is a file-infecting virus, primarily targeting executable files (those with extensions like .COM and .EXE) in the DOS environment.

Upon execution of an infected file, the Alabama virus would become resident in memory. Once active, it would infect other executable files as they were accessed. The virus was known for displaying a text message on the screen that said, "Welcome to Alabama" and then requesting the user to type "Alabama" to proceed. Failure to do so would prevent the infected program from running properly. This message and the subsequent requirement served as the virus's most easily identifiable characteristic.

The Alabama virus was considered a relatively simple virus in terms of its technical complexity. Its primary impact was annoyance and the potential for data loss due to the corruption of executable files. While not as destructive as some other viruses of the era, it nonetheless contributed to the growing awareness of the threat posed by computer viruses to personal and professional computing. Anti-virus software vendors quickly developed signatures and removal tools to combat the spread of the Alabama virus, contributing to its eventual decline. The virus is now largely considered obsolete due to the evolution of operating systems and security measures.