Why do people out there make viruses for your computer? Do they hate other people that badly?

Question

What is their motivation? Do you think it is classified as a terrorism attack when someone designs something to destroy every computer it touches? Just brainstorming, like to know what everyone else thinks! Thanks! :)

Answer 1

A reason might include monetary profit. By installing adware in to other computers, they gain revenue by displaying ads or forcing you to purchase a false solution. An example of this, is a malicious program called "Spyware Sheriff". This program forces its install and then tries to persuade you into purchasing their software to remove the damage they cause. Otherwise, virus scripters just want to have fun and see other people bang their heads on their computer. But money is usually the main motivation. It shouldn't be classified as terrorism because it doesn't really scare people. Terrorism has the word terror in it, but virus infections don't exactly scare you to death, unless you had some important work destroyed. The death penalty isn't suitable for any punishment. I believe it's truly unethical for a crime. There is no gain in killing someone for a crime they commit. I believe rehabilitation is the way to go.

Answer 2

There are several reasons, and almost none have good validity to them.

1) To see if they can do it. This is the old challenge they self, challenge the world idea, its rather stupid especially when they actually release it or it gets out.

2) To steal from or spy on people. These are often in the form of Trojan horse viruses, and they collect personal information and use it against you.

3) Just to harass people or companies. They have something wrong with their thinking, they think its ok to take advantage of back doors in programs and email so that it makes a program or computer unusable, and they don't really care who it effects.

4) To point out a flaw or gap in the security of a program or survives, these people usually have honest reasons for doing what they do, and they don't usually act upon their discovery, they usually will point it out to the people who control what they discovered, and hope for compensation, usually in the way of a job, someone got a job with a major anti virus company because he programed a nasty virus and the disinfectant and used it as a resume to get the job. (This is rare though)

The entire thing comes down to the people are idiots and jerks some times.

Answer 3

Terrorism is basically getting what you want through fear. A virus scares people into buying "partnered" spyware companies. Virus=Terrorism. And SHOULD have a severe punishment because it is basically digital terrorism and vandalism.

Answer 4

Think for a moment, if there is no virus than we don't need to buy a virus protection to our computer. I some time wonder if the person who make virus and the one who make anti virus actually the same person.

Answer 5

They do it for fun or to get a name. At least the widespread worms and viruses. The more computers they infect the more it raises their 'cred'. It's so stupid.

OR

Just to show what they can do. I wrote one in my college just to show them how easily I could change my grades and how much of a joke their so-called security was. I told them I did it and the still wanted to expel me!

Answer 6

Its fun for some one or it can be called reverse engineering..your success rate of virus depends on number of infections.

Lets not label it as terrorism!!

eBRo

Answer 7

it used to be just because it made them feel powerful, or they enjoyed the challenge of coding something that would get past defences. Now its done mostly for money it seems. Back door viruses that work in partnership with a host of spyware.

Answer 8

They're social outcasts that don't have mature software development skills to do anything useful. Personally I believe the penalties for such actions need to be more severe -- including the death penalty.

Answer 9

they are alienated from other people. doing something anonymously to harm many people and feeling that they will most likely not get caught lets them feel a sense of power and reduces some of their hostility.