Yes, viruses do act as parasites. Although it is contested whether or not they are living organisms, they do possess the traits associated with parasitism. Viruses do not have the ability to survive on their own and must take advantage of a host to do so. They do contain their own genetic material (either RNA or DNA, but not both), but do not contain the machinery to replicate. This is why they must invade living cells.
The definition of parasitism is an interaction between two species in which one species benefits at the expense of the other. This is exactly what viruses do. The virus benefits from this interaction by using the host cell's machinery to replicate itself. The cell of the host, however, is damaged and may even undergo lysis or apoptosis as a result. The additive effect of many cell deaths can compromise the health of the entire organism. Common viruses that use humans as their hosts include herpes, influenza, and the common cold.
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