Computer Fundamentals and System Concepts

Firmware is software that is permanently stored in hardware (typically ROM chips). It provides the essential instructions for how the device's hardware communicates with other hardware and software, making it a true combination of both hardware and software components.

Creeper was indeed the first computer virus, detected on ARPANET in the early 1970s. It moved between PDP-10 systems running the TENEX operating system and displayed the message 'I'M THE CREEPER. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.' The program was created by Bob Thomas as an experiment in self-replicating code.

Douglas Engelbart invented the computer mouse at Stanford Research Institute in the 1960s. It revolutionized human-computer interaction by providing an intuitive pointing device. Webcam, graphics card, and sound card are important computer components but were invented by others at different times.

VAC (Valve Anti Cheat) is Valve's official anti-cheat system implemented in Counter-Strike and other Steam games. It automatically detects and bans players using known cheats and hacks. The other options - VCC, VNC, and AntiHack - are not the names of Valve's anti-cheat system.

Resident viruses dwell permanently in RAM (Random Access Memory) after the initial infection, allowing them to remain active and infect other files. Hard disk and boot sector are storage locations where viruses can reside but are not where resident viruses specifically 'dwell' during active operation.

Polymorphic viruses constantly change their code (encrypt and decrypt) while keeping the functionality intact, making them impossible to detect using fixed string or signature searches. Each infection looks different to signature-based antivirus. Resident, Boot sector, and Macro viruses can be detected with signature-based methods.

Trojan Horses and Logic Bombs are non-replicating malware - they require execution and don't self-copy. Overwrite Viruses replicate by infecting files, Worms self-replicate across networks. Only B and D lack self-replication capability, making them the correct MC-2 answer.

Companion viruses exhibit characteristics of both Resident Viruses (which install in memory and infect files) and Direct Action Viruses (which infect files when executed and then remain dormant). They don't have properties of boot sector viruses, overwrite viruses, or directory viruses as their primary characteristics.

The ILOVEYOU virus (May 2000) caused estimated $10-15 billion in damages globally, infecting millions of computers via email with the subject 'ILOVEYOU'. Melissa (1999) was damaging but less widespread. Code Red (2001) targeted servers, and Chernobyl/CIH (1998) was destructive but not as economically damaging.

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer, completed in 1945 and formally dedicated in February 1946 at the University of Pennsylvania. Harvard Mark I was electromechanical, not fully electronic.

ENIAC is widely regarded as the first electronic general-purpose computer. The question is somewhat ambiguously worded - 'first computer' could mean different things, but ENIAC was the first all-electronic digital computer, unlike earlier electromechanical devices.