The Chernobyl virus is a computer virus with a potentially devastating payload that destroys all computer data when an infected file is executed. Since many files are executed during computer use, the virus is able to spread quickly and infect those files. The Chernobyl virus is the first virus known to have the power to damage computer hardware. The activated viral strain attempts to erase the hard drive and overwrite the system's BIOS as well.

The virus was detected as early as 1998, but its payload was first triggered April 16, 1999 - which was the 13th anniversary of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.