The article reviews the mechanisms by which viruses modulate the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which play a crucial role in controlling viral infections. Viruses employ various strategies to evade NK cell recognition and function, including downregulating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I molecules, using MHC surrogates, and interfering with the engagement of inhibitory and activating NK cell receptors. Direct interactions between viruses and NK cells, such as influenza virus infecting human NK cells, are also discussed. The article highlights recent progress in understanding viral immunoevasion mechanisms, particularly focusing on receptor-ligand interactions and their impact on overall immunity. It emphasizes the complex evolutionary arms race between viruses and hosts, where viruses continuously develop new strategies to evade NK cell-mediated immune responses.The article reviews the mechanisms by which viruses modulate the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, which play a crucial role in controlling viral infections. Viruses employ various strategies to evade NK cell recognition and function, including downregulating major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I molecules, using MHC surrogates, and interfering with the engagement of inhibitory and activating NK cell receptors. Direct interactions between viruses and NK cells, such as influenza virus infecting human NK cells, are also discussed. The article highlights recent progress in understanding viral immunoevasion mechanisms, particularly focusing on receptor-ligand interactions and their impact on overall immunity. It emphasizes the complex evolutionary arms race between viruses and hosts, where viruses continuously develop new strategies to evade NK cell-mediated immune responses.