How do virus-writers keep their scripts from infecting their own computers?

Question

I PROMISE I'm not writing malicious script, :-) but I was just running a virus scan on my laptop, and I got to wondering how hackers and other such people can write viruses that don't infect their own computers. I would assume there's sort of a reverse process that would keep their own computers safe that would also be a key in protecting others' computers as well? This seemed so ironic about virus writers not being affected by the scripts they write that I thought I'd ask.

Answer 1

Thay use something called Sandbox

read more about this:
http://sandboxie.com/

Answer 2

It doesn't matter if they affect their own PC. They can re-image the (virtual) PC very fast, or the (virtual) PC is as new after reboot (there are solutions like a reborn card, which prevent all changing things on the harddisk). And ofcourse, they know how the virus works so they will know how to prevent it.
AFTER they have completed the virus, they don't care about it anymore and release it on some newsgroup or p2p network.

Someone wrote about Linux. Indeed, that's an options too: use non-Windows computers. You can use templates to create fully new viruses, create them on your non-Windows computer, then spread them via newsgroups or p2p networks.

Firstly, MS always chooses marketing over security, when making decisions. That's why MS security is like swiss cheese.
Secondly, Linux is way more secure then Windows, because it's Open Source. It means: EVERYBODY on the world can look into it, and find the unsecure bugs. With Windows, that's not possible, all code is protected.

Answer 3

Well, many ways, and the most common one, is that they are writing windows viruses, but most coders are linux users, so they can't be affected, which is why you see a lot of people moving to linux and Unix-based systems, like Mac.

Eventually, they do need to test it, and I am sure that anyone writing a virus that plans on having it working has a lab set-up.

Also, remember, a virus doesn't jsut turn on, you have to open the software, or open the e-mail, so the user has to initiate it in the first place, besides some viruses than can come through active-X controlls on Windows systems, however, user action is still required, so, as long as you don't activate it, you won't get infected.

Answer 4

hi bubblegu..., kaspersky is a miles better anti-virus safety yet what you ask is there a thank you to maintain viruses from infecting your pc so some steps garrantees; reboot once you notice your domicile windows emblem start up tapping f8 this could deliver you to a secure mode so scrol all the way down to final solid configuration(develop) once you get on your pc hit start up>settings>administration panel hit the internet strategies icon there delete your historic previous and cookies then hit the upward push tab scrol all the way down to safety and make confident that ss01 ss02 and ss03 are all checked stick to. now go out lower back on your pc hit start up>courses>upload-ons>equipment kit hit the clean disk verify each and all of the boxes different than for thumbnail and stick on your equipment will ask you do you prefer to delete those information say definite very rapid test and that they are long gone. now flow lower back as quickly as extra there defragment that's a significant step so make confident it completes. solid success desire i replaced into effective to you

Answer 5

They do infect their own computers, they will have ones that they use only for testing and seeding the virus.

The ones they use normally won't be connected to the internet.

Answer 6

Simple. They don't RUN their own virus. The just create it.

Answer 7

they bug them..
i'm a software developer and I personally bug all the codes I write in case bossy has any problems with me ;]

Answer 8

they take plenty of antibiotics