The question "Who wrote viruses?" can be interpreted in two ways: Who conceived the theoretical concept of self-replicating programs, and who wrote the actual malicious computer viruses? Here's a breakdown:
The Theoretical Foundation: The "Father" of Computer Virology
- John von Neumann: As described in the provided reference, von Neumann is considered the theoretical "father" of computer virology. In his essay, he described how a computer program could be designed to reproduce itself.
- His work laid the groundwork for the concept of self-replicating programs, the core idea behind computer viruses. This makes him a crucial figure in understanding the theoretical basis of virology.
- Von Neumann's concept wasn't designed to be malicious; it was a theoretical exploration of self-reproduction in computers.
Actual Malicious Computer Viruses: A Diverse Group
The writing of actual computer viruses is not attributable to a single person but rather to a diverse group of individuals. These are often:
- Programmers with malicious intent: Individuals who use their programming knowledge to create viruses for various purposes, including:
- Financial gain: Creating ransomware or other viruses to steal money.
- Data theft: Stealing personal information, credit card details, or intellectual property.
- Disruption and vandalism: Infecting systems to cause chaos, damage, or take control of devices.
- Organized criminal groups: In some cases, viruses are developed and distributed by criminal organizations for large-scale fraud or espionage.
- Nation-state actors: Governments and intelligence agencies may develop viruses as cyber weapons.
In summary:
| Category | Creator |
|---|---|
| Theoretical Concept | John von Neumann |
| Actual Malicious Code | A diverse group of programmers, criminals, and nation-state actors |
