Why do people make viruses?

Question

Apart from spyware (that could capture credit card details) what is the point

Answer 1

It is interesting, with all the training and knowledge necessary in becoming an IT professional, the number one question I receive is; "Why do people make viruses?" This always makes me wonder if FBI profilers are ever asked; "Why does my computer have so many pop-up ads?" And of course, computer people often ask each other: "Why do people think they need more memory with their hard drive is full? And why do they call their computer case a modem?" These are all important questions, but only one of them I am qualified to answer. I still try to answer the other to the best of my knowledge. Unfortunately, the best of my knowledge is very, very, unpleasant.

I used to answer; the reason people make computer viruses is because they have no control in their real life's and compensate by creating their own "control". Now, I just sum the entire answer up with, "because they have small penises." I usually get a knowing nod, and some even reply, is that why there is so much spam on how to enlarge one's penis? Yes. I answer. The government floods the Internet with penis enlargement spam, in an effort to control viruses. I usually close the conversation with, "I'm not an actual mental health professional, but I did stay at a Holliday Inn Express last night." And because no one else seems to have seen this Holliday Inn commercial but me, there is a brief awkward silence, and they walk away thinking what a geek I am...I do it to myself.

In truth, I want to answer; if not for viruses, hackers, and penis enlargement spam, my job would be outsourced to another country.

...oh, and the reason people call their computers a modem is simply because they don't know what to call it. And the reason they think that they need more memory is because they received a hard drive is full error because of their hard drive is full of porn.

Answer 2

I believe the main reason is not so much as stated above but to get rich?. Most of the virus attempts I encounter day after day seem to originate from Russia and look like very authentic communications from High Street Banks. They are intended to milk the victim's bank accounts of every penny they've got in them. At least Yahoo has a virus checker in everybody's E Mail In Box to protect its users, which not most other ISPs fail to provide although it seems today that most viruses get into people's computers by being attracted to click on bogus websites, and no longer through infected E Mail attachments.

Answer 3

Low self esteem

Anger for parents, ex-girlfriend, police etc.

Basic Phsyc 101 reasons.

Now, Spyware is different.

Spyware has is now a major domain of Organized Crime. It is used for stealing Identities and getting Billions of Dollars a year.

Answer 4

Hi gilioi2007,

A friend of mine who was taking programming classes commented that his first year that they were learning to make virus scripts. There are special scripting programs for making viruses that you can get on the Internet, that makes creating viruses pretty easy.

So, let me put this together: Mental and physical problems, illusions of grandure, a need to show off his programming skills (skills that any first year programmer has), anger problems and too much time on his hands. Yeah, that about covers it.

--Rick

Answer 5

You'll get lots of answers from people on this one, ranging from "Because they're CRAZY Sons of B's!!!" to "I hat ethm alll crazy stupd peo[pl!!!!".

The truth is, some people who have too much time on their hands want to make a mark on society, and it dowsn't matter to them whether its a good one or a bad one. The sad truth, is that we all have to live with them. Or buy Apple computers, lol.

Answer 6

First it was for fun, unemployed idiot teenagers. Then it was for power, or some personal motive e.g. hacking into pentagon. Now, its mainly for profit, to hijack your computer and use it to send spam, host fraudulent websites, download autodialers, steal your info; your computer becomes a zombie working for the hacker. He remains anonymous but you are responsible for it.

Answer 7

You can not make sense of something that is senseless. I would much rather ask the question then understand the answer.

Answer 8

To make money, and of course they think its funny as heck, while we spend money getting our computers repaired I for one am not amused.

Answer 9

So they get a job with micros**t when they get noticed for being bad boys.

Answer 10

Because they are very sad and have nothing better to do with their time.