Norton Security Suite

The people that create antivirus software, are the same people creating the viruses?

Is it possible that companies that make antivirus software...are the same people that create the computer viruses?

Public Comments

1. I doubt that the people who create and update antivirus software are also creating computer viruses. I believe that it's also illegal to create a computer virus, so I'm not sure why someone would want to create one anyway.
2. I've heard that. It makes total sense so why wouldn't it be true?
3. No. this is not possible. hacker are making new viruses and antivirus companies are trying to remove.
4. ive thought this for a while. if security was so good that it blocked ALL threats, there would never be the need up update and they would lose Billions! SO either it isnt really that good or they keep making viruses to say how many updates they have created to counter them lol obviously there will always be people who do create malicious stuff but your question has crossed my mind before!!
5. The love of money, and the acquisition of wealth, power and all that comes with it, can and does make people do some astonishing things. Speculated on for years, your question may never have a complete answer, but the average Windows user must (as with most things) install trust in those 'good guys', and no doubt there are members of the 'security community' who are untouchable, (but not slated for 'sainthood' just yet), with an occasional 'rogue' who loves the money and job security. But as a corporate 'policy' to create badware...likely not. For the most part, I feel they have enough genuine bad stuff from bad people to deal with, and have no real need to create rubbish.
6. I used to think that a few years ago but now id theft has become a big illegal biz so the hacks are more money focused- See site below for some helpful tips on how to protect yourself since no one else seems to be - even the gov'ts, search engines or ISP's.
7. Not likely. First, people that make viruses can earn more money in short term, but in long term their reputation is tarnished. Secondly, they do not want to risk company's reputation, as on first information leak they would be closed by government. Third, antivirus vendors have lots to do without creating viruses themselves. However, it is much easier to create fake antivirus and then promote it with some viruses than to make real antivirus and to make viruses it can catch.
8. Now this is going to surprise you! Microsoft ITSELF! has been known to design and distribute viruses in hope that customers will have to buy a new PC/laptop as their old one has "Broken".. However Anti-virus companies themselves are not known to create and distribute viruses, however they have been known to make them for testing their software, but they don't distribute them to the customers... I myself work for an anti-virus software company called Crystal AV www.Crystal-AV.co.uk anyway, i hope this helps... AVJamesS Crystal AV