I would just like to know....What does a person gain by putting viruses,

I had this happen to me a week or so ago on my Windows OS. There is something wrong when you need to protect your computer from viruses PERIOD. No one should be vulnerable to these attacks. A software company should not release OS that are security risks and easily attacked. I have a Macintosh laptop that never has a virus problem, so after much thought, I ordered a Mac desktop and said bye-bye to Windows and all the junk that goes with it.

To be quite honest I highly doubt a simple virous is the problem with your computer. If you're installing windows on a regural basis, it could your anti-virous program is faulty. often some free programs will find files that aren't really a threat to your system. In which case you're forced to reinstall windows over and over again. The more you reinstall the program the less memory you have. I would try to find another program, and compre the files you find with known threats. Your computer could really be clean and you're doing undo harm to it without knowing the facts. If a program or file acts up that doesn't mean anything. It doesn't always mean you've got trouble. The older the system the more common this occours. Keeping your memory clean usually solves the problem.

There may be two reasons, I think. First, they may want to steal your credit card information, user names and passwords, important documents, etc. There are many types of viruses for this purpose, like trojans. And secondly, they may be trying to prove themselves. Probably they are losers in real life and try to find success on internet. Maybe they just want to make people know about them, like chernobyl virus. I suggest you to have a different computer only for surfing. Don't have files, programmes, important stuff in it so you can format your hard drive whenever the viruses invade it. The best solution, no risk

I have to agree with many of the responses that you have already received. In some cases its people proving that they can do something. In other situations, it is probably the anti companies trying to make sure their programs work and that they are able to get rid of the viruses and trojans and all the other nasty stuff. It is a huge pain in the butt, I must agree. Wish there were some way of getting the individuals to stop.

There are some viruses which can capture your cookies to get sensitive information say like your financial info, then defence info from defence related computers,some can destroy your hardwares even. From their perceptions what they are doing is right.. He gains something and so he puts viruses. But I have one doubt generally, i.e. an anti virus software companie in order to sell or to enhance the sales of their products illegally encourage some people to instill viruses. Hey do not take it serious.. just kidding.

i believe this is a conspiracy created by anti-virus software companies. when a new virus is created, persons are forced to purchase or to upgrade to an improved version of an anti-virus, making the company lots of money. if there were no more virus, then there would be no more market for anti-virus software and no more business.

veromar, Frankly speaking, I do not think that you are the actual target for the hackers to begin with. In other words, you are just collateral damage here. No offense taken here, I hope. You see, a lot of today's technologies are actually being used in the commercial corporate, financial institutions and governmental bodies. These installations have far more critical and important data than your stand alone PC at home. As such, they are always hackers' main targets and your home system setup is no different than these setups - you will just end up being another unintended innocent victim. However, here's another thing, if these attacks does not happen, developers and end users will never realize the potential threat from these weakness or loopholes in the system. It just keeps everyone on their toes as far as security is concern. However, I think as a end user I feel that your frequent reinstalling of the OS is a little concern here. I think you should not forget that with these attacks being prevalent and rampant, you just cannot go about your activities online without a proper line of safe defense software programs like firewall, antivirus and spyware removal programs. Not forgetting to keep your OS up to date with their latest updates and/or upgrades to keep your system safe and free from potential threats and attacks. Take care and compliments of the season.

I have always wondered that myself. It may be just the challenge to do it, but it is really a nasty thing to do to people you don't even know, and what kind of sicko would want to harm several people that they don't even know. It is pure evil if you ask me. I bet they do just sit back and giggle to themselves as they are destroying parts of people's lives. It is just a sick thing to do in my opinion.

Well, the primary reason would be for their own satisfication. As some of previous comments said, it is just a simple prove of their abilities. But I also recognize some simple pattern here. People create such virus things to get some money also. How? They create virus as well as the antivirus, then they spread the virus all over the net and sell the antivirus. It is a big flow of bucks there I think. Oh, and they don't care whether they screwed anyone big or anyone small, they just have fun by doing it.

I think they just enjoy doing that, Generally annoying people and making them pay money

I hate viruses! Why would someone go through all that trouble to annoy someone else?!?! I think some of them are looking for money and to steal info and stuff. I think others just do it because they can! I also think so people don't have anything else better to do then just mess with people!

They could gain info from keyloggers such as ur financial info or security info from you when u buy stuff or just annoy the hell outta you.

"ill give you a key to anyones bank account"...sounds tempting? that is what virus's do. they allow the creator to control your pc, literally, they can do anything you can do with your pc. they can steal your files, delete all your music collection, steal your passwords, use your net, anything ! certain types of malicious codes for example the trojan logs in every key you tap and sends the info to the creator. for example i go to my bank's site and enter my account name and number. ..every-time i type anything on my keyboard gets recorded secretly and is sent to the creator without your conscience through your net. now after the creator has your bank account he can do anything with you. he can ask you to pay a ransom and get back your bank account. hackers are constantly targeting government agencies. stealing confidential files and selling them on auction sites. The game of a hacker is very big ,my friend and if you are a pro hacker then you can sit upon millions of $$$

I think part of it is an ego boost. They like to see something they created spreading and making them feel powerful - even the attention of the virus checkers when they work out how to counteract the problem is a little nod in their direction because they know someone had to spend time figuring out what they did. It's very attention seeking behaviour and possibly stems from boredom as much as anything else - they're clearly smart people because they have a lot of challenges in managing to create such programmes. Maybe some have a grudge against the world, or want to show they're smarter than the virus killing companies. Still others are putting malicious payloads on your system that they can benefit from - keyloggers and stuff like that - backdoors into your system that let them grab your bank details and use them, or steal your identity to run up debts and so on.