Why do people send viruses

So who creates viruses? Many viruses and other malware are intended to make money either by tricking you into buying and downloading software, or by forcing you to look at ads or web pages. Armed with personal information like that, the malware developer could steal your identity, access bank accounts, and open credit cards in your name.

Some malware is created by people who want to damage a company or organization. Lots of viruses, malware, and spyware found on computers do not harm the computer all that much, other than slow it down. This malware is designed to capture information about the computer user and send it to the person or company responsible for making the malware. The information they collect is then used to target advertisements to your computer.

These ads come in the form of e-mails and pop-ups on your computer. If enough computers get infected, they can earn money from all the ads displayed. The more ads they send out, the more chances they have of getting people to buy something or visit the advertiser. Spam : Spam continues to be a major challenge for organizations even though a number of attempts have been made to filter out unwanted emails.

While the most normal type of spam is simply considered a nuisance, spam is also frequently employed to deliver malware. For instance, ransomware is most commonly delivered through spam and thus alerts all organizations to carefully assess spam for dangerous intent.

Key Loggers : Criminals behind the most damaging data breaches always utilize stolen user credentials. A keylogger is considered to be one effective method used by criminals to obtain passwords and IDs.

This is mostly delivered by emails when victims unknowingly click on a malicious link or attachment. Zero-Day Exploits : A zero-day vulnerability refers to a security weakness that is not known to the software developer. The security hole is exploited by hackers before the vendor has developed a fix. Zero-day attacks are mostly delivered through malicious emails, and hackers use them in order to gain unauthorized access and steal sensitive information.

Social Engineering : Social engineering is used by cybercriminals in order to build trust before stealing confidential data or user logon credentials. The attacker tricks the victim into disclosing passwords, IDs, and sensitive information, or forces them to unknowingly perform a fraudulent transaction.

Consider employing the tips given below to prevent an email virus from infecting your client device or network:. Individuals and institutions need to invest more resources into email protection to keep email virus at bay.

Although an email virus looks simple, one must not underestimate its capacity to damage your computer. More email protection is necessary considering the possibility that a cybercriminal is behind the email virus.

In order to gain more email protection, consider what parts an email virus may be hiding in an email so you can guard yourself accordingly. An email virus may only be the beginning of a targeted effort to gain your personal information.

Some hackers could be aiming for sensitive data in your account or in some database you have credentials. FIRST, for us that fix peoples computers, it is a major part of our business. How often do you go out to replace a processor? Or how often do you go somewhere to upgrade someones windows?

There absolutely nothing wrong with repairing PCs. Now I am not going to thank them, but all the ridiculous inflammatory hatred is unnecessary especially since we directly benefit from their work.

The second thing I would like to refocus our attention on is the fact that some of our clients get virused by doing things like downloading music and software illegally. Hmmm I know none of us have ever downloaded a cracked copy of what ever.

But I know as well as you all do that is not always the case. Some of them are innocent by-standards. We are making a HUGE profit on malware from our clients. Just make sure you explain to them how to avoid getting virused and recommend good security every time. Great article, great discussion. Thats excactly why Firewalls and Antivirus Software is so important. As a student of eece and an ex blackhat programmer i can say that you guys have alot to be thankful for. Now imagine if they were using these same exploits not to annoy you but to exploit these larger branches of society.

Nothing needs to be said. Im happy that most of these goons are writing junk for the mainstream users so that these programs can be analyzed and there attack vectors patched instead of these vectors never being analyzed and some retard causes billion of dollars of damage. I wrote first computer virus when I was 20, I did not send it all over I just test it in my computer , then I kill it!!!

Ok, you all are calling virus makers bad, horrible, diserve to die, and other names. I stand by you. But, there are many that are good. They are ex-makers. They help the governments around the world stay safe. They are helping at all hours on the clock. They are the bad guys here.

Who wants to start a militia, with shotguns and other creative weapons and find these hackers in their homes. Drag their ass up their basement stairs, maybe even knock off all their screens and take their stupid like hard drives with there stupid viruses on them, and smash them in the street in front of the hacker as he gets put into the back of a cop car.

Hey guys? In a way, this is what the hackers do for computer programmers and anti-virus companies. Computer viruses can be fixed either by clever coding or by purchasing a new computer.

Seriously, why does our society consider virginity a disease when there are STDs that can kill you? Great article, by the way. Another one of my burning questions answered. I do agree with the author of this article in reasons why viruses are created.

I am majoring in the Information Technology field studying info.. You guys love your computer too much. Get out some time. Hackers are in justice. It is unfortunate to say that some virus developers are intended to do it so that they can offer an anti-virus program to counter it. It is practical because the developer himself is the one manipulating us because he sends a virus then his anti virus because he knows how to counter it.

Thus, it gives him more money from the fooled users. It is hard to believe, I know, just recently being infected with the ThinkPoint! After I got rid of the virus, let us hope I actually did, I started to feel a little bit more grateful for having a safe, usable computer. Would certainly teach me a lesson.

I have run into the fake virus programs more than once. So have friends family and coworkers. The sad thing is, some of the coworkers who are in sales dont really use their laptop much so they are unfamiliar with viruses, malware, trojans, spyware, and so on, and they end up purchasing the fake anti virus full version. You may laugh but these people are not so computer savy and the assume that the fake anti virus software has been put there by our company or something for them to fix their computer.

Any computer savy person will immeadiatly realize this is fake as no virus software tries to shut down your computers programs and software and demand you buy it to fix your computer. There are several easy fixes, so it doesnt scare me, but i just think about all of the poor stupid people they scam. Isnt this illegal??? I mean this is flat out illegal how can the government not try to crack down on these types of things.

Obviously if they want you to purchase something there are bank accounts, web sites, servers, all leading back to the possible creator, why cant we hammer these people hard. I remember the good old days when you had to actually download a virus by accident. No go to the wrong site and this virus stuff loads automatically without clicking anything. Thank god mobil phone and other browsing is still in its infancy. As mobil phone and tablets become more and more popular and overtake computer use, virus creators will switch their focus to the operating systems of these mobil devices.

People mindlessly download app after app, music, ringtones, videos, documents, all day long. It is a matter of time before these virus creators expose a weakness and infect hundreds of thousands of phones. And let me tell you, phones arent as easy to fix as computers. Phones wil llikely have to be completely wiped to fix them. Also, for those of you who think the only option to fix the fake antivirus scam is to purchase the full version, think again.

Yes if you purchase the full version, the choke hold on your computer will be released, bbut what happens is this full version runs non stop and does nothing.

Meaning it will seem like your computer has a ball and chain attached to its hard drive. IT will be running slower than a snail. To be honest,these people makes me sick! I agree with whoever said that virus makers should be murdered. Anti-virus companies are just as bad, stealing money from people who are being criminally violated.

You do not need to be viewing porn, or downloading illegal programs to be infected. If you think that is case, then you are an idiot, or a noob, or both.