Re: What is the motivation for Virus Writers?

From: Robert Moir (bofh_at_mvps.org)
Date: 12/14/03 

Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2003 17:25:20 -0000

Trevor wrote:
> I have just finished paying to get my PC cleaned after the W32 Blaster
> Worm infected it.
>
> I am wondering why people write viruses at all. What is the motive?
>
> I heard it is an intellectual challenge trying to break systems. But
> what is the challenge in hurting a home PC, or someone with a small
> business? I cannot understand the reason for attacking ordinary people
> who are just trying to make a living.
>
> Terrorists attack ordinary people because they are "soft targets" or
> easy to kill and hurt. They rarely attack soldiers and police
> officers.
>
> If virus writers attack us because we are easy targets, then surely
> that defeats the point of the challenge.

There are as many different reasons as there are different writers. Some
people write for the challange of writing self-replicating code, others to
solve a problem or to test a theory, still others to see something they
created get in the news, and yet others may intend harm to someone's
computer.

Very few of those people i've spoke to want to cause harm to others. In the
past certainly though maybe not as much today, lots of the big name viruses
didn't do anything but spread, and any harm caused was not intended or
anticipated by the author.

Personally, I don't see a problem with writing a virus. After all, if we
allow people freedom of speech & expression then that means they might
sometimes say things we don't like. Thats a price we pay for having that
freedom. My only problem is with virus authors who write a virus then set
about releasing it into the wild afterwards.

And lets get some perspective on this; you compare virus writing to
terrorism. We know that international terrorism has killed far too many
people over the years. Tell me: How many people have computer virus authors
killed? 

-- 
-- 
Rob Moir
Microsoft MVP for servers & security
Website - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk
Virtual PC 2004 FAQ - http://www.robertmoir.co.uk/win/VirtualPC2004FAQ.html

Relevant Pages

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