Since 1986 when the first hacked self-copying program entered computers, viruses have caused all sorts of issues. They can slow down a computer and corrupt data, or display political or funny messages. They can also take personal information such as credit card numbers, telephone number, passwords, bank accounts and spam email addresses and contacts.
A virus is a program that attaches itself to other files or programs and then infects them. It then is hidden until the infected program is run. Typically, a virus starts by infecting the host program, and then spreads to other programs and files, usually by e-mail. A virus that is successful could cause massive destruction and damage within the span of a few days.
It takes time and knowledge to create an infection on a computer, but anyone interested in computer programming will be able learn how to do it. You can make a virus to find out about a programming language, or as an entertainment. Making a virus could be a good way to test the effectiveness of an antivirus scanner.
This article will show you how to make a simple computer virus using Python but the same process is applicable to any programming language. Python is an excellent programming language for beginners because it’s relatively easy to master. Other programming languages which can be compiled are typically preferred by viruses since they operate at an lower level and are therefore more efficient.