Can a txt file contain a virus?

As long as it is truly a text file, it cannot contain a virus. It might be an executable disguised as a text file(pay close attention to the extension... is it .txt.exe?), in which case it could be a virus or trojan horse. The best thing to do if you want to download the file, is scan it with your antivirus program... you do have one, right?

Every single file on your computer is stored as a series of bytes. Each byte can range in value from 0 to 255. That covers everything: text, audio, video, executable files, everything. So, technically, yes, a text file CAN contain a virus.

The salient question here is, does it pose a threat? The answer depends on what is done with that data. If a text file is only opened in a text editor, then it will never cause harm, because it never "runs". So if you scan it, and only open it with a text editor, like Notepad, then you'll be fine.

If the text file contains a virus, and you change the extension to .exe, and then run the executable, and your anti-virus program doesn't block it, then you have a problem. So don't do that :-D

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Virus always come with files. As to exist in the harddisk everything has to be in the shape of files. Now what kind of files viruses stick themselves, depends in the Operating System and the architecture you use. Also it depends how the files are being treated in your computer. Well logically text files should not harm you PC as there purpose mostly is to store and later VIEW the text. As long as there purpose is to be VIEWED they cannot harm your PC. But IT DEFINITELY CAN CONTAIN VIRUS, as viruses actually are "Excutable Binary or Text script/contents" inside files and those files can be the Text files. You have to be careful that your text files always only serve the purpose to be "VIEWED" and will never be executed. A software can be made to secretly to rename the file with .TXT extension to .EXE extension to exploit the existing virus code in the that file. As long as your .TXT files are associated to be opened with NOTEPAD or any simple text editor they are safe. So repeating again as long as your Text files are only being "VIEWED", you are safe. Do not let them execute in anyway. And there is one more thing to remember that most aniviruses exclude text files while scanning so make sure to incude them as well.

Most of the files can have an attached virus. So be careful in downloading files. It may contain a trojan virus that may cause your computer to download the virus itself.

It can definitely, contain a virus.

it can contain evil code which can save itself as and application and launch a virus

nowdays..anything can contain a virus..even your diaper