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

You can for example ask your virus to remain inactive if it finds a file *donotmessthiscomputer*, which you make sure to have on your disk.

When the virus doesn’t find this file, then it kicks into action.