What is the point of computer viruses? What good do they do to the people who make them?

Answer 1

There are many reasons. The basics are the following: 1) So the creator can say they did it and show that they can. 2)To destroy a certain system. 3)To get back at someone or something.

Spyware is the same, but adware is different.
Spyware: To collect persons personal info for identity theft.
Adware: Company that makes money (like Claria) by putting ads on peoples computers, even when they are not online, or to find out top websites, or to change search results to better fit themselves or the person who is paying them.

Answer 2

I think the first thing to realize about computer virii, is that they are just programs which exploit holes in other programs or in the operating system. So people who write them are typically computer enthusiasts who are exploring how computers, operating systems and software work together. Historically there were a few Eastern bloc countries where for various reasons, there was a high number of well educated and unemployed people, who had available to them, near obsolete computers. A number of these people turned to writing PC computer viruses I think, because they were bored and frustrated.

Of course one of the earliest and best known Internet bourne worms was written by a college student, who was really only trying to experiment, and due to a bug, ended up infecting a substantial part of the internet.

These days however, people who are looking for ways to make money from spam and spyware infection, are the main users of viruses. A substantial portion of spam comes from the computers of people who have unknowingly become infected by a virus which allows the spammer to use that computer remotely as a spam relay node.

These people usually weren't the originators of the spam, but they use viruses and exploits discovered by others, and modify them for their own purposes.

Answer 3

Viruses are less common now days.

Trojan horses are more common, they steal passwords, credit card numbers, and hijack your web browser to increase their traffic etc.

You can see what benefits they receive from this.

As for just a plain old virus it's a competitive thing, who is smarter Microsoft, and the anti-virus companies or the virus writer.

Why do Vandals vandalize?
Not for personal gain, but because they enjoy it.

Almost all evil deeds in this world are committed because it gives the perpetrator a sense of power over the victims.

Answer 4

When you're a programmer, you can sometimes get bored,. You always have to try to break the programs you write, so I guess people started to try to break in to other systems. Therefore hacking started. Trying to write a program that spreads very fast would be a sign of achievment, and sometimes these hackers start to work for IT security companies, trying to hack their own network before hackers on the outside do, therefore trying to protect the network etc.

Some viruses send a lot of emails etc, and this is really just sending loads of (useless) advertising.

Answer 5

grimy web pages and pa united statesare no longer viruses. a pandemic is any malicious programming. some trouble-free use for viruses is to video exhibit interest on someones workstation, in all likelihood countries away and thieve credit card advice and and so on. So no, it is not all pointless. those hackers are making massive greenbacks like this. it particularly is sort of like against the regulation syndicate yet lamer.

Answer 6

The main reason for a virus is "Because I can." Some people enjoy world havoc. Others create them for a living, as in the cases of Ad- and spyware.

Answer 7

The only use is the personal enjoyment of the person who makes them. Some screwed-up smart dude makes one just because he likes to ruin other people. Spy-ware is used for stealing personal info, maybe for identify theft.

Answer 8

They are used for the purposes of Blackmail, Theft, Terroresm, Wide spread destruction, Attacking people. Lots of fun to make. LOL, to answer your question they do no good, and its illegal, they are the same as the bombs made by terrorest.

Answer 9

The point is to cause trouble and ruin the owner's computer experience. I doubt they make them to make money, but maybe.

Answer 10

Simply, hackers see it as a challenge. The rules of chaos.

Just the same as why do people vandalize or deface property with graffiti?