Of all the things that people could do, why is creating a virus that sends people into a panic and causes widespread havoc on that list of things? Recently, there was a new virus that can actually be spread through USB flash drives, and steals passwords (or something close to that). What could possibly posses a person to make something that has the potential to mess up thousands of computers and costing the computer owners money? Its crazy. Please, provide your input.
Tags: USB flash drive, new virus, computer owners, malicious software, Microsoft Windows, computer owners moneyWhat Makes a Person Want to Create a Computer Virus?
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There are many reasons.
1. The person wants to make money, either by stealing your information, as you stated, and accessing your bank account, etc. or stealing your identity and using it for their own to save their credit and let you take all the heat.
2. They do it simply because they can, or to test their computer skills
3. They want to get back at you for something or just do it for thrills
That’s the sad truth. Now, since there are millions of people out there designing viruses for exactly this reason, they are also hurting themselves, but don’t care as long as they get what they want
To make you pay for an anti-virus software which they also write?
The problem isn’t the virus makers. The problem is this mob mentality the ignorant public tends to have. Just look at the Conficker worm. Anybody who had an antivirus and automatic updates enabled had almost no risk for it, but everybody still freaked out.
As for why they write them, mostly it’s for money. A large botnet is worth millions. Boredom, fame, wanting to be cool play a part too.
I’ve written a few viruses myself, but only as proof of concept to test out security holes. I never bothered to release one. I have been very tempted to release an OSX worm, there are about 8 ways to infect a default OSX install at the moment, and the OSX community needs a good kick in the ass. I doubt I will, I’m too lazy to be a real programmer. I prefer being an administrator.
Same reason why people find it humorous when someone accidentally slips over. Whilst the preceding comparison may not be to the same degree as someone who enjoys writing computer viruses, it does have a fundamental root – sardonicism, of which means that one finds humour in the pain of others. The psychology that some people who write computer viruses adhere to is that they enjoy watching their very own creation obliterate and eliminate everything and anything it meets in its path. It then produces a sense of egoism, in that the person who created the virus then believes that he/she is skilled and intelligent enough (almost to the likes of a god) to bring the world down to its knees.
For the most part, that is what computer viruses are made for, and unfortunately, the most serious among them have creators who conform to the above mentality. There are smaller off-shoot reasons that can cause someone to create computer viruses. Some do it for political purposes, and by injuring the corporation/group’s cyber infrastructure, they can easily make a point across. Another reason that some people create computer viruses is to deliberately find flaws within a cyber infrastructure. People who have this sort of mentality are often like the very first I described, but are more like the “White Hats”, in that they notify the corporation/firm/school etc, of the weaknesses in their technological infrastructure, and suggest ways to improve it. The more business-minded of them create their own antivirus software and sell it to the group(s) harmed.
That’s about it. And beware of Conficker. It digested my school!
If Freud were still around, he’d say it’s because they are sexually frustrated about unfulfilled fantasies with their mother.
Ok bet your not going to get a answer like this one , but hey it’s the truth and nothing but the truth TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE ME MONEY
NO i do not write virus or trojans but i do own a PC / technology shop
in the last say 6 months 98% of the PC coming into my shop come in for some sort of infection , from a rouge trojan ( such as protection 360 or other types of malware) i simply run combo fix and superantispyware on them or if need be log in using a boot disk such as a ultiamte boot disk remove the virus and done ( usally under 15 minutes ) and a easy 100.00 in my pocket . and this goes on a easy 5 to 8 times a day , so yes 500 a day cleaning a virus off a PC EASY ASS MONEY !! . SO THERE YOU HAVE THE TRUTH
Well, people make viruses jsut for the fun of it. they like to mess up the persons computer so they will have to refix it. Mostly, they make viruses to hack bank computers or enterprises. They get valuable information like bank passwords etc and then they can access all their files. The reason i jsut gave is the main one. they made a virus through USB flash drives because many people use those nowdays. My school’s computer had the 2009 virus: Conflicker
there just assholes plain and simple,they do it to steal money or ‘just for fun’.
this computer i have is the 3rd one in two years. the most recent one i got on my last computer was a restarting one. if i tired to turn my computer on it would start up then 30 secs later it would shut down. i was told by a computer technician that i took it too, that that particular virus was made for “funnies”. i didn’t find it funny, in the slightest.
one of the answers here said that they do it so you will buy their antivirals programs and that is also true.
i guess there is nothing we can do to stop it, just as long as we keep our anti-virus programs up-to-date, which is what i intended to do this time.
its funny! i mean come on.. have you ever played a prank on someone and loved their angry/frustrated reaction and thought
“omgosh this is fun!” .. i have! and you love it. the same goes for making computer viruses. i made a pop up on my sisters computer so that when she clicked okay or exit it would shut the computer down.. it was hilarious! i kept it there for about three days before i got caught and had to remove it.. but man it was worth it!
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