MoMusings

I covered virus writers a few weeks ago, but made sure that I didn’t cover their alleged and actual motivations at that time, mainly because it is a complete topic in itself. So, I have decided to cover it now. So why do they write malware in the first place, what motivates them?

There are many possible reasons why people create malware but at the end of the day, only the original writer knows the real reason, but below are common reasons [there are many others]:

One virus writer that I asked, confessed to me that the reason he wrote viruses was:

“because I was bullied at school, and I’m using viruses to get back at them”.

Is it me or is this about as logical as using a nuclear weapon to kill one person in the midle of a heavily populated continent?

Another reasons for covering this topic now is due to the recent resurfacing of the ‘Urban Legend’ that goes something like this:

“The anti-virus companies write them, or pay others to create new malware, it’s in their interest as otherwise they would all be out of a job”

If that were true then the following must also be true:

• Thieves must be being shielded by the insurance companies or being paid by them? Hang on the police must be in on this scam too!
• Smoke-alarm makers or firemen are paying or shielding arsonists.
• Fitness instructors must be in league with the fast food companies!
• Dentists are funding sweet [candy] manufacturers.

What about Doctors, Nurses…..oh and Undertakers, the list is endless! Are they all corrupt, do they all drum up business by being unethical?

Please note I didn’t include politicians in that list

Conspiracy theorists would love this

However it is true that if new viruses creation significantly slowed, the industry would be effected, but not in the way most people envisage. The AV companies would be able to come-up with better products which were more proactive and that didn’t rely on the current ‘junkie fix’ cycle that end-users are ‘hooked’ on…..[Begin Chant] “must have virus signature updates……MUST have anti-virus updates!” [End Chant]

Even if the AV industry collapsed, the researchers/developers, and even the sales droids would find employment elsewhere. Sheesh, come to that so would I, malware/anti-malware is not my only specialism.