Does a Virus...

I always wondered what does a virus do when it is on the same computer that it was made on. So lets say person A makes a virus then sends it to B, then C uploads that virus into a file and A downloads it. Now when A extracts or uses the file it will......

*Refer to Poll

 

I'm guessing "A" will get infected, just because "A" made the virus, does not mean it will be immune.

 

I always wondered what happens when the creator has his creation in his machine.But since he made it he should know how it works it probably how to stop it.

 

People always have these mystical ideas about viruses...

A virus is just a program like any other. The only thing that's different is intent. Just like any other program, you can program a virus in a testing environment, and not affect the actual physical computer you're programming on.

 

Even simpler, you can have a simple file to deactivate the virus and have it check for that file in a fixed location for example.

Overall I wouldn't think the creator would get infected unless he gets really unlucky.

 

If a virus is made to infect explorer.exe and the creator uses OSX, he will be same from infection since the target app is missing?

 

My guess would be yes.

But don't quote me on that.

 

The reason the person will not infect himself in that case is not because Explorer.exe doesn't exist in OSX, but is instead based on the fundamentals of programming.

Any decent virus will run in kernel mode, where it has access to system resources. Kernel mode in Windows is different from kernel mode in OSX and Linux. Code compiled for Windows will be gibberish to OSX. That's why Windows programs don't run on Macs.

 

The fact that the software was written on the same machine is irrelevant.

 

If Computer A downloads the virus, it has the potential to infect it as if it were any other computer that downloads it.

There is no difference.

 

This is all very well, but I must ask... Why have you " always wondered"? Do you intend to release a virus?

 

^^ This is what I wondered at first

 

how come he will be infected and the virus already running on the machine ?

 

Because, even though he made the virus, does not mean he is automatically immune to it. I mean, he wouldn't want to make a virus on his main computer anyway.

Unless his A/V picks it up, then he is in the clear, but other wise, he can still get it. Just like anyone else.

 

your right but he will make a virus on a virtual machine that doesn't have anti-v
and make sure that it does what it made for so its already running on that vm
he will be infected on he main machine not on the vm thats already infected

 

If he were smart, he would make the virus on a VM, yes, then use another test computer, separate to any other, where he can test to make sure the virus actually does what he needs.

It's really just common sense. Like, it would be stupid of me to right now code a virus (I wouldn't, though, as I have no clue how to, haha) then use a Virtual PC to test it. It just doesn't work like that. In that instance, yes, the computer would become infected.

 

Yes, that seems to be the case. I even wonder what the point of this question might be. Like you said, a virus is a program like any other one, and anybody who knows anything at all about programming computers can build a virus. The fact that I build a virus on my computer has nothing to do with the notion of a "virus being on my system" as an analogy to biological virus infections.

So, here is an exhaustive answer to your question: If I build a virus, it will be an executable on my system, meaning some file containing executable code, nothing more, nothing less. It will do absolutely nothing at this point. If I now run this executable, and if it is designed to do whatever it does on systems with a configuration like the one I have, then it will do whatever it was programmed to do.

 

lol no, don't worry I'm not making any sort of thing. But my friend sent me the .exe that made my wallpaper black, I wanted to know if it would effect him too.