Computersight -

Since its release to the public in 1994, the internet has become one of the most used tools in the world. With the internet came the ability to send e-mails, chat with people all-over world, and make and view web-sites. Along with the many excellent features of the internet came the scourge that makes companies quake and people tremble, the virus. A virus is a computer program created to appear like a helpful program, but actually infects and possibly ruin a computer. One question that puzzles people is, “why are viruses made?” Most viruses are either downloaded from a web-site, unknowingly, or come in an e-mail. A decade later viruses still plague personal computers. There are many different reasons young men build and distribute computer viruses.

One of the most destructive things in the world is spare time. The mischievous act of building viruses occurs in the boredom of spare time. While some are made by women, most viruses are built by young men attending high-school and college who have too much time on their hands. When not engaged in sports or other activities, these young men have nothing to accomplish after school or on weekends. Spare time can lead to loneliness which, in turn, leaves an emptiness. Some people will try to fill their emptiness with something that makes them feel good about themselves. Building a virus can make a person feel superior to others because it is a hard thing to do.

All men love acquiring and completing a challenge. As George Patton once said, “Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” Successfully building and then distributing a virus over the internet could be considered one of the hardest things ever done. Breaking through a computer’s security is the first challenge when building a virus. A well designed and well built virus can navigate around fire-walls and anti-virus programs designed to protect a computer. The second challenge in building and distributing a virus is not getting caught. Because it can destroy a computer and steal personal information, it is illegal to distribute a virus. Therefore, avoiding discovery from the police becomes another challenge that attracts young men.

While some men build viruses because of boredom or for the challenge, others do it for more malicious reasons. Once it has worked its way through the fire-wall and anti-virus program, a virus can access personal files and steal passwords, user-names, credit card numbers, or any other personal information entered into the computer. With this type of information, a virus builder could pretend to be someone else by using stolen passwords and user-names. Also, with credit card numbers a virus builder is able purchase expensive items without spending their own money. 

These diverse motives, and many others as well, lure men into building computer viruses. While some young men exploit the personal computer by building viruses, others use their knowledge of computers to build educational web-sites, teach classes, and run companies. Even though most men use their computer knowledge for good, when spare time, a need for a challenge, and a desire for money come together, the computer can become a deadly instrument in the wrong hands.