As usually happens when I ought to be studying, my mind has wandered to thoughts that have nothing to do with me.
I've never really had a computer science course, so this question might have a simple answer. Is there a good reason why computer viruses are not concocted by computer companies to sell more computers/software? I keep thinking of what my high school economics teacher said, "follow the dollar..." I can't come up with a compelling monetary reason for individuals to come up with viruses. It can imagine doing it for purely malicious reasons, but not much else. Companies, on the other hand, have a lot to gain. They invent the problems, then come up with software to sell that stops it. Plus, they don't have to spend much time figuring things out, since they designed the virus to begin with.
Or are the majority of 'true' viruses meant to illicit the subject's personal info to be used for personal gain?
I'm not usually so conspiracy minded, but this seems to make sense..... talk some logic into me?