Why do people write viruses?

[ThePresence]

Just wondering......What motivates someone to write and release a computer virus? Is there a point? Is it just because they can?

 

[pyonir]

because they can.

 

[Supermercado]

Probably to get attention. They want to show it to their friends and say "Look what I did." Or they're bored. Or stupid. Or both.

 

[rutchtkim]

Most of all, they do it because they feel like they've accomplished something that many would not or dare not do

 

[royaldank]

fun or revenge. Fun in that the people that write the high profile viruses probably get a great buzz seeing their work on the nightly news.

Revenge for someone or a company that pissed them off. Sometimes they will leak out of the intended target or get modified by someone else and released again.

We need to lock these guys up for a long time. 20 months is a freakin joke for the "melissa" author. He should have gotten 10+ years.

 

[nihil]

mostly because they can. and do take into consideration that most virii that are released are not released by the author themselves. it's usually some little kid that thinks he is "leet" cause he can attach it to an email.

 

[Harvey]

I once read the manual for the human body. It says there is supposed to be only one asshole issued for each human being.

Computer viruses are proof that someone has been overproducing. :disgust:

 

[ThePresence]

HA, someone told me that they do it as an investment. They get caught, serve a year or 2, then they get hired by a big time firm to do virus protection. LOL. If that's true, it's pathetic.

 

[Descartes]

For two reasons only (mutually exclusive)

1) Technical merit
2) Notoriety

There's been a recent proliferation of virii with creator's aspiring for 2, as little technical merit is involved with some of these worms. The days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone.

 

[Rivergater]

Yeah, these all seem like valid reasons.
Also, I'm sure its the same reason why people vandalize...

 

[bsobel]

> The days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone.

You base that observation on what?
Bill

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

<< For two reasons only (mutually exclusive)

1) Technical merit
2) Notoriety

There's been a recent proliferation of virii with creator's aspiring for 2, as little technical merit is involved with some of these worms. The days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone. >>

Bingo. We have a winner.

nik

 

[DnetMHZ]

maybe boredom.

 

[ThePresence]

<< The days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone. >>



How can you know that? Someone can always write something that hasn't been done yet.

 

[chickendinner]

some reason people hack: cause they can.

 

[joohang]

Because they have nothing better to do.

 

[bsobel]

> For two reasons only (mutually exclusive)
>
> 1) Technical merit
> 2) Notoriety
>
> There's been a recent proliferation of virii with creator's aspiring for 2, as little technical merit is involved with some of these worms. The days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone.

While I agree with your first two items, I disagree that they are mutually exclusive nor that the list is exaustive. The last statement about "days of truly brilliant, and capable, virii are gone." further shows you don't know what your talking about (in this case, not a general observation )

I'll extend your list:

3) Blackmail/extortion
4) Offensive/defensive military operation (anyone remember the Gulf war laser printers?)
5) Research (albeit frowned upon by those truely researching this area)
6) Sales tool (eEye wasn't too crushed regarding their sales when CodeRed hit)

Bill

 

[yourharddrive]

its fun i wrote one the other day in computer programming, prettty simple actually, it jsut deletes win.com

 

[bsobel]

> i wrote one the other day in computer programming,

Actually, it's a felony. So, be carefull with whatever you dreamt up (from what you said sounds more like a trojan than a virus)
Bill