# David L. Smith

> American computer programmer who wrote Melissa virus

**Wikidata**: [Q28745245](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q28745245)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/david-l-smith

## Summary
David L. Smith is an American computer programmer and computer scientist best known as the author of the Melissa virus. He is a male human recognized under the alias David Smith, with a primary identity rooted in computer science and programming.

## Biography
- Nationality: American
- Known for: Writing the Melissa virus
- Field(s): Computer science, Computer programming
- Sex/Gender: Male

## Contributions
David L. Smith created the Melissa virus. As the author of this notable computer program, his primary concrete outcome in the field of computer science is the development and release of this specific virus.

## FAQs
**What is David L. Smith known for?**
He is the American computer programmer who wrote the Melissa virus.

**What is David L. Smith's professional background?**
He works in the field of computer science, which encompasses the industrial and service sectors, and is classified professionally as a computer scientist.

**Does David L. Smith use any other names?**
Yes, he uses the alias David Smith.

## Why They Matter
David L. Smith's significance in the field of computer science stems directly from his creation of the Melissa virus. By writing this virus, he impacted the industrial and service sectors of computer science, demonstrating vulnerabilities within computer systems and networks. His work serves as a prominent case study in the field, influencing how computer scientists and the industry approach digital security and the mitigation of malicious software. Without his actions, the landscape of early computer virus awareness and defensive programming would likely have evolved differently.

## Notable For
- Authoring the Melissa virus
- Being recognized as an American computer programmer
- Operating under the alias David Smith
- Working in the computer science industry (industrial and service sectors)
- Being cataloged in digital knowledge bases with a Google Knowledge Graph ID (/g/120hncz2) and a Wikidata description

## Body

### Identity and Background
David L. Smith is a male human recognized as an American computer programmer. He also goes by the alias David Smith. His given name is David, and his family name is Smith. He holds a Google Knowledge Graph ID of /g/120hncz2. 

### Professional Classification
Professionally, Smith is classified as a computer scientist, a designation supported by references such as . The occupation of a computer scientist involves studying or practicing computer science, an industry that spans both the industrial sector and the service sector. This field is broadly documented, with a sitelink count of 38 across related knowledge platforms. 

### The Melissa Virus
Smith's primary recognized contribution or action in the technology space is writing the Melissa virus. This specific program serves as his defining work and is the central reason for his inclusion in knowledge bases, directly informing his Wikidata description as an "American computer programmer who wrote Melissa virus." 

### Knowledge Base Presence
Smith's digital footprint includes a sitelink count of 1, with his Wikipedia presence limited to the Catalan language (ca). His Wikidata description explicitly identifies him by his nationality, occupation, and the creation of the Melissa virus. 

### Related Field Context
Within the broader context of computer science, Smith's profile is connected to other notable figures in the discipline, such as Takeo Kanade. Kanade, a Japanese computer scientist and university teacher born on October 24, 1945, represents another facet of the computer scientist occupation. Kanade holds Japanese citizenship, has a sitelink count of 12, and is documented via references such as  and . While Kanade's work sits firmly in academic and teaching realms, Smith's classification under the same occupational umbrella highlights the diverse applications and manifestations of computer science expertise—ranging from academic research to the creation of disruptive computer programs like the Melissa virus.