Why Are There Computer Viruses?

Question

I don't get it. it doesn't do anything good.

Answer 1

most computer viruses are formatted to work with windows and not macs so i suggest getting a mac
but viruses are just software designed to infect a system usually programmed with a timer and set to go off at a specific time sorta like a time bomb but i think the purpose of viruses is to make pc repair shops rich
(i think so when they charge $20 an hour and work slower than molasses)
and also viruses are also can be used to retrieve passwords and usernames to your myspace or email address these kinds of viruses are known as spyware
and a few thing you should be aware of
viruses can be disquised as many things
games
flash player content
shockwave content
pornography
and music

Answer 2

There are many things in the world, that are bad. At first, computer viruses were actually not dangerous, and were nothing more than a show-off of some skilled programmers. Later, some people get into the idea of making a hoax to somebody, so they added some destructive functionality. Then, when it was clear, that it is possible to make heavy damage of someone's computer, it was only a matter of time, before people with too much aggression and hate inside decided, to unwind by introducing as much havoc as possible.

The more interesting story only begins :) Few years ago, when it become obvious, that most valuable thing in the cyber-world is information, viruses designed to gather information were created. Most of nowadays viruses are different kinds of information harvesters, with sole purpose of getting data on your preferences, habits etc., which data is later used in - mostly illegal - marketing practices. As you may know, such practices are very profitable, so, to a group of people, computer viruses do a lot of "good". Where there is profit, there is a need, where is a need, there is solution. And so we have - reason for existence of computer viruses :)

Answer 3

2

Answer 4

The 'classical' reason for computer viruses is to show off and, for some at least, just to see if it can be done.

The modern reason is once you have a virus the author basically has control of your machine. Lots of machines with viruses can be combined to perform a task (a botnet). The task is invariably something shady that you wouldn't want to get caught doing - sending spam, attacking other computers and networks - and a whole variety of other nefarious activities that tend to be both highly illegal and profitable.

Think on this too, given that there are so many viruses, how many prosecutions have you heard of? Profit + low risk of detection = viruses and a whole lot of other nonsense for us to deal with.

Answer 5

People create computer viruses for 1 of a few reasons. 1. They want to distribute software that will cause popups on your computer that access their web site to generate hits on their website which in turn makes money for them. 2. They want to infect your computer with a trojan horse that will allow them to gain access to your computer and steal information, credit card numbers, website/email logins, and other personal information for conducting fraudulent business online or identity theft. 3. They just want to shut down a computer or service provided by a computer. A while back when a company called SCO tried to sue IBM claiming that IBM used parts of SCO's software and sold it as their own. Really this software had been developed by large community of people all over the world. So somebody in the community wrote a virus that infected computers and caused them to send ping floods (packets of data constantly) to www.sco.com to take up all their bandwidth and cause their web servers to crash. I'm sorry that was a long history lesson. But people all over the world create viruses for a variety of different reasons.

Answer 6

These anti-virus companies hire punks to create such viruses so ,we,the consumers, will have to pay a "protection fee" of guarding our computers

Answer 7

The anti-virus program companies make them so that we have to buy their software to protect our computers. This boosts the economy by providing more jobs for computer programmers and hackers.

Answer 8

That's kind of the Point, The people who create them are usually either punk kids trying to cause havoc or someone trying to illegally make money off of it.

Answer 9

Because some juvenile people (of whatever age) have a really warped sense of humor, and think causing trouble for others shows their power and how smart they are.

Answer 10

Because there are alot of scumbags in the world who can only feel good if they destroy.