Why do people create computer viruses?

[kenny]

Is it a power thing?
Are they psychopaths?
Are they adolescents rebelling against society?

What's the payoff? Bragging rights with their hacking, pubescent scumbag 'friends'?
... I'm not talking about criminals who profit from identify theft, harm a government or political party they don't like, or a company that fired them.
Their motives are obvious.

I'm asking about those who create things that erase your and my hard drive, etc.
What do they do when they find out zillions were affected by their virus, grab a beer and jerk off?
What's going on in their heads?

 

[justginger]

I think it is a challenge to them. There is no doubt that it takes time, talent, and lateral thinking to build a program from scratch that overtakes thousands of computers. I am secretly impressed by the viruses that do no real harm - the ones that make your monitor flicker on Halloween, or flip your uncompressed bitmap files on every Friday the 13th. I suppose I can compare viruses to graffiti. Most of it is damaging, inappropriate, and criminal. But sometimes, when done in an eyesore of an area with real talent, I enjoy it. Right or wrong.

With today's reliance on electronic devices, viruses are almost a form of terrorism.

 

[LibbyLA]

Same reason vandals destroy other people's physical property. Those of us who would never consider wrecking someone else's stuff just can't relate.

liz

 

[JewelFreak]

I was thinking vandalism too. Those who do nothing to be proud of wanting to make their mark on the world.

 

[FrekeChild]

For fun. Sometimes people just do stuff like this for fun. Whatevs!

 

[Polished]

Perhaps for the same reason people deliberately start fires - sit back, in anonymity, and watch the enormity of the effect you have created.

 

[rubybeth]

Sometimes it's just their job, as part of the corporate and government espionage or attacks that go on, most of which we probably have no idea about. It's a crime, a criminal act. Why do criminals steal, kill, etc.? It's not an easy answer. Stuxnet was a pretty big deal, created to target Iran's uranium enrichment facility. More info.: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Top-Ten-Most-Destructive-Computer-Viruses.html

 

[marcy]

I would suggest assorted reasons - fun, vanity, they can, notoriety, a power trip.

I don't know if this is true but I've heard some of the viruses are created by the same people who then sell you the virus detecting / protecting software. In the days of floppy drives I got the "die hard" virus and it absolutely destroyed all our files and software. Once programs starting acting up you would try to reinstall them and the virus added a line to the executables of the install disk so we had to replace all of our software too.

 

[manderz]

I think it is a challenge to them. There is no doubt that it takes time, talent, and lateral thinking to build a program from scratch that overtakes thousands of computers. I am secretly impressed by the viruses that do no real harm - the ones that make your monitor flicker on Halloween, or flip your uncompressed bitmap files on every Friday the 13th. I suppose I can compare viruses to graffiti. Most of it is damaging, inappropriate, and criminal. But sometimes, when done in an eyesore of an area with real talent, I enjoy it. Right or wrong.

With today's reliance on electronic devices, viruses are almost a form of terrorism.

Interesting and insightful comparison. I agree completely!

 

[luv2sparkle]

I think it is the anti virus companies that make them and send them out so more people buy their product.

 

[KaeKae]

For attention. The virus gets big enough, we will be hearing about it on the news. Then the virus makers know they've been noticed. Ridiculous, I know.

 

[AN0NYM0US]

To help stimulate the economy

 

[monarch64]

To help stimulate the economy

Heyyyy...don't I know you from 4chan?

 

[iLander]

Because douche-ness also varies.

 

[iLander]

Because douche-ness also varies.

 

[luckyerialc]

Most likely to show off their skills. They probably try to "one-up" eachother with who has the most powerful virus. It's likely they all run in the same Internet circles and forums. Bizarre.