Like I understand maybe wanting to get information maybe from like big government sources or something, but why do these viruses also target random people?
What is there to gain from screwing up a random person’s software?
Like is it just to be petty or are they gathering data??
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It’s largely an unfortunate coincidence created by the nature of computing technology.
Computers and computer viruses are similar in many ways to their biological counterparts. One human’s body is basically the same as any other: we all have lungs, a heart, kidneys, a brain, and so forth. A biological virus that affects one person’s body stands a good chance of being able to infect another person’s body in the same way.
Similarly, every computer has (roughly) the same design: a processor, a video card, RAM, a network interface, and a data-storage system. It’s difficult and time-consuming to tailor a computer virus to affect *only* the target system, so most virus programmers don’t bother.
It’s not necessarily an *intentional* attack on randomly-chosen systems; it’s just that a virus doesn’t always distinguish between ‘valid’ and ‘invalid’ targets.
It’s largely an unfortunate coincidence created by the nature of computing technology.
Computers and computer viruses are similar in many ways to their biological counterparts. One human’s body is basically the same as any other: we all have lungs, a heart, kidneys, a brain, and so forth. A biological virus that affects one person’s body stands a good chance of being able to infect another person’s body in the same way.
Similarly, every computer has (roughly) the same design: a processor, a video card, RAM, a network interface, and a data-storage system. It’s difficult and time-consuming to tailor a computer virus to affect *only* the target system, so most virus programmers don’t bother.
It’s not necessarily an *intentional* attack on randomly-chosen systems; it’s just that a virus doesn’t always distinguish between ‘valid’ and ‘invalid’ targets.
Back in the 80’s to 00’s they were mostly passion projects from random software devs, anyone could make a virus due to laws being less strict. They used to add their names and everything up to personalized political opinions. Now it’s more about money and exploiting people rather than getting good reactions.
Back in the 80’s to 00’s they were mostly passion projects from random software devs, anyone could make a virus due to laws being less strict. They used to add their names and everything up to personalized political opinions. Now it’s more about money and exploiting people rather than getting good reactions.
Back in the 80’s to 00’s they were mostly passion projects from random software devs, anyone could make a virus due to laws being less strict. They used to add their names and everything up to personalized political opinions. Now it’s more about money and exploiting people rather than getting good reactions.
If we’re talking about classic viruses like Chernobyl, there are several elements to this. A lot of this is mischievous instinct, but its also done for clout among hackers, the more successful the virus the better. The same can be used as a tech reel for a hacker that wants to be hired.
Eventually its about finding a vulnerability and exploiting it with a file that finds its way into systems.
In the more modern sense its about spying and stealing password/personal/credit card data to do financial crimes.
If we’re talking about classic viruses like Chernobyl, there are several elements to this. A lot of this is mischievous instinct, but its also done for clout among hackers, the more successful the virus the better. The same can be used as a tech reel for a hacker that wants to be hired.
Eventually its about finding a vulnerability and exploiting it with a file that finds its way into systems.
In the more modern sense its about spying and stealing password/personal/credit card data to do financial crimes.
If we’re talking about classic viruses like Chernobyl, there are several elements to this. A lot of this is mischievous instinct, but its also done for clout among hackers, the more successful the virus the better. The same can be used as a tech reel for a hacker that wants to be hired.
Eventually its about finding a vulnerability and exploiting it with a file that finds its way into systems.
In the more modern sense its about spying and stealing password/personal/credit card data to do financial crimes.
A computer virus is a piece of software that intentionally was create to achieve a goal without the permission of the user.
Those goals can be but are not limited to:
-steal data
-encrypt data
-create an access point to remote control your hardware
-annoy the user
-destroy machines and hardware (usually limited to industrial hardware)
After those goals are achieved, the creator of the virus can:
-blackmail you
-sell your data
-enjoy the chaos created
-use your hardware for another attack
A piece of code isn’t that hard to be created.
There are easy tutorials for “viruses” that let pop up faces of Nicholas Cage on your PC while you use it that are shorter than an hour.
The main problem is to bypass security measures and most of the time those are by passed by human factors, even today is the best anti-virus software a cautious and well trained user.
A computer virus is a piece of software that intentionally was create to achieve a goal without the permission of the user.
Those goals can be but are not limited to:
-steal data
-encrypt data
-create an access point to remote control your hardware
-annoy the user
-destroy machines and hardware (usually limited to industrial hardware)
After those goals are achieved, the creator of the virus can:
-blackmail you
-sell your data
-enjoy the chaos created
-use your hardware for another attack
A piece of code isn’t that hard to be created.
There are easy tutorials for “viruses” that let pop up faces of Nicholas Cage on your PC while you use it that are shorter than an hour.
The main problem is to bypass security measures and most of the time those are by passed by human factors, even today is the best anti-virus software a cautious and well trained user.
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