Do antivirus companies create their own virus to ensure continued demand for their product?

Question

It makes business sense to me. Are there proofs? Are they criminally liable?

Answer 1

I don't think there's any evidence the major players in antivirus actually write viruses. Most of the guys who work there get their self-esteem from being notable. Most viruses are put out by "script kiddies" and sociopaths who seek self-esteem by being notorious. Whole different mind set.
Every major security firm has a team of experts trying to exploit vulnerabilities in systems... seeing if there's a way to hack, crash or wreck a system. They do this to try to beat the virus creaters to the punch... fixing holes before they're exploited; being the first to exploit, then fix, a vulnerability.
There have been numerous examples of unscrupulous players, particularly "antispyware" companies, that create problems/exploit vulnerabilities and then offer a "solution" to their problem. The company that exploited windows messaging by the warning in a grey box is a classic example. I know of two "antivirus" vendors who do the same thing by installing spyware that pops up warnings and links to their web page.

But as for Symantec, Norton, etc.... no. No evidence they created or encouraged the problem.

Answer 2

2

Answer 3

only people that wear tin foil hats believe this is happening. There are enough crazy people out there coding up viruses so that antivirus companies don't have to bother. I definitely don't think an antivirus should be part of windows. Microsoft started including a firewall with windows and a lot of good that did. It would've been better if they never included it in the first place so it doesn't give people false sense of security.

Answer 4

While it sounds like a great idea to think they'd do this, I seriously doubt it. First of all, the risks far outweigh the rewards. There are plenty of legitimate viruses out there that are written by individuals (who are caught). So there's no need for them to increase demand, because there's plenty of it.

Also, a lot of viruses that have true impact on security are traced and investigated by companies like Microsoft, who often offer rewards for capture. If any of this lead back to Norton or Mcafee, they'd lose everything "and" they'd be facing criminal charges.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but I'd bet a huge chunk of money against it.

Answer 5

There are enough viruses created by stupid 10-year old kids with no place in society messing up my computer already, the vanti-virus companies don't need to create more!

Answer 6

That sounds tempting but I seriously doubt the companies would do that because the fed could investigate and if caught, they'd be severely punished and lose hugely.

Answer 7

Of course they don't!!!! What a stupid question!! They create anti virus software to protect genuine people's computers from being ruined by idiots. That's why some AV programs are free - to help and protect us all.

Answer 8

I think we can all agree that nortan and macafee have become bundle bloatwere and system hogs like spyware.

Answer 9

Yeah definitely.
I don't think there have been any proofs though and yes they are liable because it's vandalism.

Answer 10

I wouldn't doubt it if they did.