why did people create viruses

[whereismk]

why do people put viruses on useful programs, whats the freiken point what could the virus publisher gain out of any of this except to upload them on to mirosoft to steal their programs (thats about it)

 

[amp88]

People write them for various purposes. Creating damage in computers and computer systems (some people are just like that), for the challenge (some people write them then instantly send them to companies who create anti-viruses to show them loopholes that can be exploited) and for commercial gain (using other people's bandwidth for advertising or such things) are some of the reasons. They are not used, however, to steal software. That's a different matter altogether.

 

[DuckRacer]

Most people create viruses to screw with you. Sad, but true.

 

[whereismk]

well thanx i just read something about someone stealing microsoft programs with a certain worm...., anyway people who do that are stupid

 

[amp88]

well thanx i just read something about someone stealing microsoft programs with a certain worm....

IIRC that was someone who was stealing the source code to Windows 2000, not the finished software.

 

[whereismk]

oh thanx again i think....

 

[Law93]

Most people create viruses to screw with you. Sad, but true.

i would love to see a virus programmer get messed with one 👍

 

[Omnis]

Hacking is used to steal software, not viruses.

 

[guska]

i would love to see a virus programmer get messed with one 👍

Apparently happens all the time, the virus they write goes and screws with their own system! Idiots!

 

[amp88]

Any person who's serious about writing malicious code would never run their code on their own machine, unless they were running on a virtual machine perhaps. They'd have dedicated boxes running different OSs to test on. It takes a fair amount of intelligence/skill/knowledge to write a virus or trojan of any complexity. There are tools to make the task easier, but at the end of the day these people are not idiots.

 

[dougiemeats]

What's this virus you all speak of?





But yeah, as long as there are vulnerable points within a piece of software, people will take advantage of them.

 

[amp88]

What's this virus you all speak of?





But yeah, as long as there are vulnerable points within a piece of software, people will take advantage of them.

Aye aye, you're not totally free from the reach of virus makers though, just a little bit better protected.

 

[dougiemeats]

Aye aye, you're not totally free from the reach of virus makers though, just a little bit better protected.

Of course, nothing is 100% safe. But for now, I'll continue to look down upon everyone and walk around with my expensive cup of coffee while wearing this sweatshirt:



* I don't actually own this sweatshirt.

 

[amp88]

A transparent coffee cup available in 8 different colours, no doubt

 

[HACKr]

Hacking is used to steal software, not viruses.

Nonononononononono.
Hackers are NOT criminals. Those are crackers...


I like Linux.

 

[Omnis]

Nonononononononono.
Hackers are NOT criminals. Those are crackers...


I like Linux.

I know hackers aren't criminals. However, you can hack into ftps and steal whatever's there if you wanted to. So, hackers CAN be criminals. (but, you're right...because then they'd just be called crackers. Hahahaha.)

It takes about 5 minutes to obtain root-level control of a macintosh. The thing is that nobody makes viruses for macs because nobody important uses them and/or the group of users is just not important compared to the massive amount of windows users. If they want to make massive cyber-destruction, they'll want to go after windows users.

 

[dougiemeats]

It takes about 5 minutes to obtain root-level control of a macintosh. The thing is that nobody makes viruses for macs because nobody important uses them and/or the group of users is just not important compared to the massive amount of windows users. If they want to make massive cyber-destruction, they'll want to go after windows users.

This argument is partly correct. But wouldn't you want to be the person to create the first virus for OS X? That would be some serious streed-cred right there.

Sure it wouldn't affect many people compared to a Windows virus, but the virus creator would arguably be more notorious.

 

[HACKr]

This argument is partly correct. But wouldn't you want to be the person to create the first virus for OS X? That would be some serious streed-cred right there.

Sure it wouldn't affect many people compared to a Windows virus, but the virus creator would arguably be more notorious.

Wow, now that's a way to get 1337 quick.

 

[ÄŁPĨЙΣ]

I think I'm safe. I have 67437679067173901 anti virus programs!!

 

[Sage]

You dug up a month-old thread to say that?

 

[ßen]

Jees, Alpine, give it a rest. Bumping old threads will just make you unpopular, understand me?