Why do computer viruses exist?

Answer 1

Because some people are stupid! They prefer spending their time causing trouble to as many people as possible.

They will probably always exist but would be much more limited if there was more effort put to identify the virus writers and prosecute them. But that is near impossible now since most sites with illegal content are hosted in countries where the government doesn't verify those things or make profit out of it.

If they could at least make a constructive virus. :) One that once you catch it, your computer goes twice as fast and everything works well. You'd call your best friend and tell her "I caught this amazing virus which boosted my computer, you should try to catch it too". lol

Answer 2

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Answer 3

To the everyday computer user viruses are not desired or friendly pieces of code. However, it takes a great deal of talent and intellect to create a successful virus, so naturally it becomes an honor to be considered by your peers to be a 'master'. Of course, there is fierce competition to try and outdo the others and become the best. Sometimes the competition generates a virus that is particularly nasty and destructive, and ends up costing millions of dollars (if not billions) to recover from. So it is easy to really hate hackers and virus authors who see themselves as modern-day Jesse James' or Black Beards.
But another thing to consider is the good that is being done. By showing us the vulnerabilities our computer systems have inherently we are made stronger. Before the first virus was written, our computers were open doors that we never thought to lock. Think about where we would be if the first virus writers had been our true enemies. We would have been left to just stand around helpless with our mouths open while the systems that we had come to depend upon disintegrated around us (including our defense weapons systems). Now, thanks to the virus authors that are merely intellectual bandits, we are all too aware and have our defenses finely honed to counter these attacks.
I can't close this discussion without also mentioning that we have a whole new industry that thrives on providing us with the tools to detect, remove and block viruses, spyware and spam. The way I see it, it has all worked out very well.

Answer 4

Microsoft operating systems leave files, including important operating files, open to anyone to diddle with. Knowing this, vandals choose to write nasty executable files which pop themselves into your operating files and do whatever disgusting thing the vandal wants to happen.

At one time, most vandalism involved wiping out your hard disk contents, or making your computer do weird things.

More recently it seems many of them are more what is called trojans, and they may take over your computer and request it to send 'pings' to certain targeted computers, forcing it to answer thus making it impossible to use it for its intended function.

Another bad use is to make your computer receive emails and send them to a large list of people, as spam.

Linux has what is called a system of permissions on every single file on the computer. If you are logged in as user, you personally cannot modify those system files even if you want to. so any viruses that might come in can't do anything to your system files. Thus, viruses and trojans and spyware don't work. Detractors try to lie saying it is only because there aren't enough users to bother no one writes them. In truth, 800 Linux viruses have been written but they simply can't do anything to a user system

I fully expected Vista would include such a permissions based file system, and there was a claim for a while it would have a new file system, but then they announced that part of Vista was postponed.

If they ever implement such a system, viruses et al will essentially cease to exist in Windows as well, since there is no magic other than the permissions system which makes Linux resistant to viruses.

Answer 5

Two key reasons:

a) Some a**holes simply take pleasure in creating missery for others.

b) MONEY - either by way of closing down a company's network, extortion (pay up or I'll shut you down)

Then of course there are the many forms of spyware/malware, almost all of which a designed with financial gains as the incentive - ie, by gathering sensitive info can either access bank account, use info for extorsion, etc.

Oh, and then there are the "prof of concept" viruses. Theses are usually harmless, and are simply a hacker's way of say "look what I can do" - the show-off basically

Answer 6

In one word: because it is inherently difficult to produce code which is absolutely error free. Many people believe that controversial many year policies and practices of Microsoft are THE cause of existence of substantial part of bad stuff in general.

Originally viruses are believed to be products of bored students, designed to generally spread havoc for no particular cause. In last years there was substantial shift, where most today’s malware or rather designed to provide authors with unfair monetary profit rather than just spread havoc. Therefore most of “viruses” as they used to be known declined substantially and has been replaces by sywares and adwares. Today viruses and worms are usually designed either to generate SPAM or to allow perform or sort of attacks on other PCs – which ensures anonymity of attacker.

Answer 7

Viruses r just software programs coded by Programmers who r too intelligent and don't have time to write a fix rather they write a virus..

Thats where Open source plays its best. When there is an Open Source behind a software. Millions of people can see the source code and fix it by their own experiences. The whole community owns the source. Not just any corporate earning hard bucks on buggy softwares.

Answer 8

Becuase people like to mess other peoples computers up. Sometimes, people from major computer companies mess up other peoples computer to buy more computers from them(thats what I heard). And also viruses create pathways for other people to steal your information.

Answer 9

viruses exist because its a way to ruin other people's equipment and cause financial damage

Answer 10

Because there are a lot of people around with nothing else to do with thier life than screw things up for others and to make money