Do antivirus software developers create viruses?

Business is business, and the anti-virus industry is BIG business. I've had my suspicions for a while, since my computer kept getting viruses even after I scaned it nine different ways. I concluded that the same people that "protect us", are the same people who "infect us". Money talks and Bull$#!+ walks.

I don't think that a serious company would venture into making new viruses simply because it will eventually leak out to the public. But I do believe that someone within their own employees, with the know-how to clean viruses, produce them at home on their own initiative. Then send them out to infect the net. A few days later, voila!! they ''discover'' the cure to the menace and save the day. The boss is happy, the customers are happy and the perpetrator earns his/her bonus. That is Job security at its best!!

Surely there are enough viruses already out, there with new ones everyday, to keep them busy. What need would they have to create their own? It's a ridiculous thought.

I'm sure software manufacturers aren't hurting from pc's infected with a bug or two or three. For the most part, these companies are above board and trustworthy.(cough cough)
Some anti-virus and firewall companies may fuel these concerns for obvious reasons. In my opinion, they're just as scared of some of these vicous preditors as are all of us; it wouldn't be in their best interest to create what already is in excess.
The manufacturers of the alarmingly growing anti-this & that are doing well, thank you, just on what's out there now.
In closing, most all of these companies are legit and concerned for the end-user...why? because they usually only last a year or so, and believe me, they want your business.
Thank You and kudos to ZoneAlarm and SystemMechanic!!! (2 of my favs) They're both effective and have fun to watch graphics.
Have fun!, Thanx for the chance to wear out my keyboard!...Tom S.

1. shoddy Windows operating system

2. walking crap-bags who write virii for their own reasons

3. Quite possibly some involvement from antivirus makers, but they'd have enough work even without helping out.

The reason I'm so sure is the fact that every time I load for example a spyware removal tool, it always finds some kind of something on my Computer. I don't care if I just cleaned it, it always finds something. I feel they put something your Computer to make you think thay are the best because they found something that the other didn't find.

Why would they waste time and money creating viruses when there are plenty of highly educated, extremely intelligent people (with way too much time on their hands) developing the latest & greatest headache for computer users. Kudos to AV, antispy, anti-malware developers for trying to make our computing experience less complicated.

I have a friend in the industry that claims his company would Never attempt that tactic- creating viruses to later delete them using proprietary Anti-Virus Programs.

He does say that he Does believe that only goes on in the Anti-Spyware market. He knows of companies in that industry that do that! Sorry, he did not divulge any names, but says he Only uses Lavasoft's Adaware SE Pro because of that.

I never even would've thought of that. I personally think that the media of today makes people sooooo paranoid and I'm not saying it wouldn't be a possibility, but I would not imagine such a thing! I still have some faith in people and I think there are enough screwballs out there trying to mess up the works without the enemy being inside the camp. At least I hope so. That would really ----!

I never had a problem with my computer until I installed an anti-virus. At work I'm required to run anti-virus software and I'm always having problems even though it is a secure network. Avoiding viruses is as easy as not opening spam and downloading from reputable sources. Your computer should never be downloading or updating unless it is something you specificly indicated it to do. Anti-virus software's is specificly set up to run and update in the background without you knowing it!

I can only speak from experience, but I must say I find the posibility very low. I have been running AVG Free for 5 or 6 years now and only received infections when in my younger days I foolishly visited 'dodgy' sites or opened equally odd E-mails.
I do run the occaisional on-line scan, but these usually only high-light things they don't recognise, butwhich I am aware of. So my response is: NO!

It would be impossible to keep such activity a secret, and any company that did such a dastardly act would be destroyed when the word got out.

I have always been considered a very cynical "old" man, but the older you get, less things tend to surprise you. In the 15 years or so I have had a computer, it never ceased to amaze me that tens of thousands of viruses that have been produced, with the anti-virus software companies coming up with instant cleaning and removal tools. With new viruses surfacing every day, the second a new virus hits the Internet, my antivirus software automatically installs the latest updates. Sometimes I have up to four updates a day using eithet Norton's Antivirus in the distant past, AVG antivirus not so long ago, and now the best antivrus product on the market, Trend Micro PC-cillin.
Logically speaking, such instant fixes could only be made possible if the solution was produced at the same time as the virus was written. I have a diploma in IT and have written programs using Visual Basic and Visual Studio.Net and know how easy it is to write a virus program. By writing the program, it is equally as easy to write a program to detect that virus, meaning that my cynical views on the question presented, are valid and true. Nothing will change my mind.

I used to be addicted to anything freeware, and have had most of my problems with viruses and spyware, etc. from downloading freeware. I've stupidly opened e-mail attachments w/o scanning, etc.
Are there individuals, and companies spreading nasties in freeware, ads, and hacked sites, etc.? Yes, common knowledge! Just because software puports to detect spyware, and viruses doesn't mean you should trust it if it isn't from a reputable company. I've been burned that way too! In fact just because it's from a major company doesn't mean it will detect, and delete everything. I had a computer that was running Norton. The license ran out. The computer went south as soon as the license expired, because Norton didn't clean the virus out of every file.
Are the major companies spreading the rampant plauges. Most likely, not! Other submmitters have already covered that ground so I don't need to go there.
As for the timing of release and fix. I haven't seen it be that instantaneous. I've seen it be release, and then a virus definition for your AV, and then hopefully a way to clean it with the present app, and then if that doesn't work. A release of a separate free app to clean it off.
Since I've come clean and stayed away from freeware, not opened unknown attachments, kept away from weird sites, and have kept a good firewall on. I've never been infected.
As for the overhearing of execs from AV cos discussing this sort of thing. Sounds too much like urban legend fodder to me. I think healthy skeptism is OK. However, when it morphs into paranoia. Well, you know!
I have a confession to make....I haven't completely reformed. I still use AVG free and highly recommend it.
Oh no they're monitoring my submission...Save me! They're sending in the black helicopters to get me!

i also feel that many of the virus had been created by the antivirus developers or their associates.if it found true -capital punishment should be given to them

No! They probably know that in the world there are sufficient people with bad ideas to produce viruses and similar malware.

I have a family member who decided to re-format her hard drive and completly removed everything from her computer. She installed Norton AntiVirus and after installation found that she had picked up the wrong CD and installed an older version. She then removed and installed the up to date version. She ran the AntiVirus out of curiosity. Amazing enough it found several virus's and trogans and the only thing on her computer was Norton programs. So I would have to say I believe there might be something to it.

Remeber the first Mac Trojan? Everyone who owned one (not me, but I remember it) went into an uproar. All it really did was play a sound of someone laughing, but it scared plenty of people. These huge computer software companies are disgusting, leading their consumers into infinite upgrades. I've got a good Norton subscription until 2006, and when it goes dead, I'm using Avast.

Hi,my name is Pete,I'm 31 & have been building pc's for about 6 yrs. The big virus trend started only a few years ago. This was when virus scanners were largely looked over until a few kids decided to make a few,probably out of boredom. Now my virus scanner updates almost everyday. Why? Well,whether paid or free, if we had no new viruses, we'd have no need to have a billion companies offering various products. Think a pimply faced teen can hack microsoft's main frame & wreak havoc on messenger & emails? No way,& the perpetrators were never caught.There's pros behind all this. Some are "wild",created by losers with nothing better to do. Alot come from music sites & these are the work of the music industry to try & foil the downloading & transfer of music files. To make a good virus you usually need 2 things,alot of brains & money, things most teens don't have enough of. However,Mc Afee,Norton,AVG,Avast!(personal favorite),do have these resouces. Cmon how else can they fix a virus in less than 24hrs. of indroduction to the net? The music industry is one of the worst virus creators. Same with "crack" websites,offering software & serial cracks. Either way it doesn't matter. Stay on safe sites,run a good firewall,run Avast! anti-virus,& microsoft anti-spyware. You can't go wrong with that combo. Paid anti-virus only gives more support,which I never needed,except from norton when I had that. Alot of free scanners are as good if not better than paid ones.I kinda expounded off the main track,but hopefully, some peoples eyes will be opened.

Long time ago I was wondering the same...

Definitely viruses are developed by antivirus companies because this increases their product value.
Otherwise if there is no virus then what is the need of antivirus?

Could be ! Ask yourself "who profits?" This question has uncovered many a nefarious deed in the past. Crime solvers ask that question to help come up with likely suspects ( I learned that from Columbo lol). However, it ,then, is necessary to prove the suspected link; A good alibi comes in handy ; "Mr Norton , where were you on May 19 ?"
Of course, Mr Norton could have paid some geeky kid to do the dirty work , in which case, we have to find that kid and apply torture methods; vee have vays to make him talk ,yah !

because there are so many people out there who like to do damage and give people a hard time (the antivirus vendor doesn't need to do it). I had my suspicians a while about this, sure there are shady antivirus vendors, but I doubt any real well trusted antivirus vendor would create viruses to profit, because there are all many so people that already have done it. SOme of them have been prosecuted. What about spyware vendors do they make spyware and adware? Are the firewall vendors the one that are hacking into your computer?

There are just so many people who have nothing better to do, at least that is what I think.