Do Antivirus Companies Create Computer Viruses?

Updated 6/30/2020 from

no Antivirus companies understand the risks of computer viruses and the potential dangers of spreading them into the wild. The idea that antivirus companies create viruses is a myth, urban legend, and conspiracy theory.

Creating viruses would increase profits

There is no shortage of viruses and other malware to justify the demands of antivirus programs. If antivirus companies believed that spreading viruses would increase profits or sales, they would create viruses and other malware for other platforms. Like Apple’s Macintosh and *nix, where virus threats are not as high among Microsoft Windows users.

Antivirus companies are more likely to increase their profits if they can keep their products updated to detect and eliminate all computer viruses and other threats.

Where is the evidence that antivirus companies don’t create viruses?

Creating computer viruses is not that difficult for someone who knows about computers and programming. Creating viruses would not help with virus detection or prevention.

An antivirus company could not protect itself from the release of the virus without raising suspicions. Therefore, it would infect its own product which would lead to customer dissatisfaction.

There are many other users not affiliated with antivirus companies who are already creating viruses and other malware.

The code that makes up a virus is examined by several security researchers when a virus spreads in the wild. Analysis of this code could lead to the antivirus company.

An antivirus company could be held responsible for creating viruses, which not only gives them a bad image but also leads to legal action.

There hasn’t been a report of a security company developing viruses since 1988, when researchers first started thinking about and developing antivirus solutions.

I’m sure an antivirus company hires virus writers

no Again, an antivirus company doesn’t want to be associated with anyone who may have caused a person or company to lose data or money. No matter how good someone can write viruses.