Computer Viruses

[xstitcher]

I can't understand what "kicks" somebody can get by starting a pc virus.

Any ideas????????

[jake-the-peg]

Once upon a time it was 'for kicks'

These days they want to make money from you

A trojan may sit silently looking for a credit card number or it might use your machine as a 'zombie' to send masses of spam mail or attack a website

They can even make money out of redirecting browsers to particular websites all the time.

These days it's strictly professional - you can even buy 'virus writing packs' with full technical support.

The days of crashing computers for laughs are long gone

[AB Editor]

You're suggesting there's no financial gain? :)

The majority of the time the virus is there to:

1. Make you download, and pay for, a product which will "make it go away"
2. Scrape details from your keystrokes/logins/files which gain the virus writer access to your bank or social accounts
3. Propagate itself.

The "kicks" which come from it may also include the "fun" of "beating" a security system.

Usually the best advice is: if you don't understand something, don't do it. :)

[jake-the-peg]

This is going on right now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21954636

One of the big anti-spam companies is under a gigantic attack

Probably millions of compromised machines are, unknown to their users, blasting the company with data trying to crash it.

I'd say there was a fair chance that someone on answerbank - right now has a machine taking part in this!

[xstitcher]

Aha....now I see. I have only had a virus once and that was years ago but I do get emails asking me to open this and that which I delete at once and that is what made me wonder.
Thanks for the really comprehensive answer ed.

[xstitcher]

That link was so interesting Jake. Our computer has been unbelievably slow this week and this could be the reason.

[Old_Geezer]

PCs are often unbelievably slow. It's in their nature.

[rojash]

"PCs are often unbelievably slow."

I don't believe it...

[xstitcher]

Today I am back to normally slow so I still believe Jake's article...