Eli5 – How are computer viruses created without destroying the creator’s computer first?

Question

I’ve always wondered how computer viruses are made. If someone creates a virus on their own computer, wouldn’t it infect and potentially destroy their system first before it’s spread to others?

In: 249

Answer 1

If we are talking about the actual creator, they understand how it works and can handle it accordingly. When you’re trying to forensically analyze a virus, you do it the same way you would a real one. You test it in a controlled environment. Somewhere safe. For example, you would not connect it to a network outside of the testing setup.