why do people make computer viruses?

Answer 1

A) Ego-tripping. Nothing makes some people feel good than knowing that they can destroy something.
B) General Principles of Evil. All supervillains start out small...
C) Money. Some people (no names, of course) would actually pay people to write viruses so they can sell their products (e.g. Anti-virus software). If you like a bit of a conspiracy...
D) Arrogance. Just to say "I can".
E) Fun. If you're a bit of a misguided, sick, abusive, sadistic *******, it's fun for you. But not for most other people.

Answer 2

Unlike biological viruses, computer viruses do not simply evolve by themselves. Computer viruses do not come into existence spontaneously, nor are they likely to be created by bugs in regular programs. They are deliberately created by programmers, or by people who use virus creation software. Computer viruses can only do what the programmers have programmed them to do.

Virus writers can have various reasons for creating and spreading malware. Viruses have been written as research projects, pranks, vandalism, to attack the products of specific companies, to distribute political messages, and financial gain from identity theft, spyware, and cryptoviral extortion. Some virus writers consider their creations to be works of art, and see virus writing as a creative hobby. Additionally, many virus writers oppose deliberately destructive payload routines. Some viruses were intended as "good viruses". They spread improvements to the programs they infect, or delete other viruses. These viruses are, however, quite rare, still consume system resources, may accidentally damage systems they infect, and, on occasion, have become infected and acted as vectors for malicious viruses. A poorly written "good virus" can also inadvertently become a virus in and of itself (for example, such a 'good virus' may misidentify its target file and delete an innocent system file by mistake). Moreover, they normally operate without asking for the permission of the computer owner. Since self-replicating code causes many complications, it is questionable if a well-intentioned virus can ever solve a problem in a way that is superior to a regular program that does not replicate itself.

Answer 3

Money-
Zombie networks of computers with viruses can be sold to groups that attack websites and extort money from other organizations with denial of service attacks. (block user from getting to shoping websites around holidays, the site sometimes just pays them to stop)

they can also steal credit card info, they can sell a number at about $ 500 each

ego trip-
to out think a programmer or a admin. It is kind of showing off how smart they are(how smart they think they are anyway)

Answer 4

Please read below.

3. What in your mind is the purpose of hacking?
To seek knowledge, discover something new, be the first one to find a particular weakness in a computer system or the first to be able to get a certain result from a program. As mentioned above, this doesn't have to confine itself to the world of computers. Anyone who's an adventurer or explorer of some sort, or any good investigative journalist, knows the feeling of wanting to do something nobody has ever done before or find the answer despite being told that you can't. One thing that all of the people involved in these endeavors seem to share is the feeling from outsiders that they're wasting their time.


From:
Q&A with Emmanuel Goldstein of 2600: The Hacker's Quarterly

(CNN) -- Emmanuel Goldstein is the editor-in-chief of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly and hosts a weekly radio program in New York called "Off the Hook."

Answer 5

Honestly, I think the people making the computer viruses are the same computer gurus that make antivirus programs! By creating viruses they keep their income coming in from people buying their anti-virus programs!

Answer 6

It gives them a sense of power and control, and makes them seem more intelligent than all their "victims." It's a way to spread themselves throughout the world without leaving their chair. If they are not caught, they consider themselves even MORE intelligent for having escaped the law (usually not for long).

Answer 7

It's all about profit. If an individual knows he can get money by selling malware or a zombie farm to other people then he will continue trying.

Answer 8

It is practice to get known so they can make spyware in the future and get paid for it.

Answer 9

To make money boy!!
And to create trouble!!
You will be shocked they also make real viruses that cause diseases in humans!!

Answer 10

WeIl, hackers can get all your personal info and pretty much learn most anything about you