Overwrite may refer to any of the following:
In general, overwrite describes when new information replaces old information or data. For example, in a text editor, if text was highlighted, and you pressed “a” on the keyboard all highlighted text would be replaced with the letter “a.”
One of two typing settings on a keyboard, overwrite mode allows new input to replace existing characters. The Insert key is used to toggle this mode, enabling or disabling it.
In most programs, if you’ve overwritten any text, and you want to get the text back, you can undo the change.
- When referring to a virus, an overwrite virus is a computer virus that overwrites a file with its own code, helping spread the virus to other files and computers.
Insert, Override, Overtype, Security terms, Virus
Related information
- How to remove a virus and malware from my computer.
- How does a computer get infected with a virus or spyware?
- All other computer virus questions and answers.
