[germainebull]

A friend once told me that the companies that create antivirus programs also create the viruses.

He said that these somewhat self-contradictory actions ensure that these companies remain in business.

To date, I've not confirmed or discredited these remarks.

What is the truth about this matter?

[Decentlady]

I too have heard about this but had long forgotten. Lots of things happen where money is concerned although I couldnot find evidence for this but I do believe that some viruses are created by people either deliberately or otherwise.

[chikitta]

I have also heard about the rumour before but I cannot tell if it is true or false though there could be some truth in it because if you can repair a virus then you should be knowing how it is created right?

[IcyFirefly]

I haven't heard that yet but it makes logical sense to me. The company must have one group to do the good deed and one group to do the bad deed, just so they can go on to make money. Money always talks louder than any moral concerns.

Avast though, gives out free anti-virus software for years, and I wonder how they made money besides the donations and the ads.

[darkthorn]

I have always heard that, as long as vírus are created people will need to repair their computers and so the software these companies make is sold easily. The best way to make Money is to create or find a problem and then offer the solution to it, this is what these companies do, otherwise you wouldn't find so many anti-virus and malware software on the market.

[jonjenkins]

There will always be lots of malicious software for Windows, simply because it's a big opportunity for criminals and people who just like causing trouble. I doubt very much that many antivirus companies would bother being involved with virus creation. Plenty of people like to mess about with computer security for fun, and obviously many do it for money, illegally.