Why do people write/spread viruses?

- From postings which have appeared in alt.comp.virus in the past: * they don't understand or prefer not to think about the consequences for other people * they simply don't care * they don't consider it to be their problem if someone else is inconvenienced * they draw a false distinction between creating/publishing viruses and distributing them * they consider it to be the responsibility of someone else to protect systems from their creations * they get a buzz, acknowledged or otherwise, from vandalism * they consider they're fighting authority * they like 'matching wits' with antivirus vendors * it's a way of getting attention, getting recognition from their peers and their names (or at least that of their virus) in the papers and the Wild List * they're keeping the antivirus vendors in a job