Thats a good question, and I never really thought about it like that. It would make perfect sense, right? Unless they were exposed, of course. But honestly, no, I dont think that the people who make anti-virus software are behind the viruses.

Actually I do, especailly ad-ware.

I think that, in the case of big companies, this would be the first place that the law would look. Most viruses have been traced to individuals, such as the famous one that came from the Philippines (sorry can't remember the name), but it is possible that some terrorist groups could use them to try and stop the flow of information in the future, if they have not tried already.

I have always thought so, and also replied recently to the same..... http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/132994/362177

They are definitely aggressive in their pop up advertising! I hate the way they are the only ones who can constantly bombard your PC with obnoxious ads, so I wouldn't be surprised if they were also infecting our PCs just to get us to buy their products.

It's not a big stretch to imagine that this is the case, but I've never seen any evidence to suggest so. They certainly are able to take advantage of the general public's ignorance of computers. Anti-virus companies have the financial success they do because so many computer users do not practise safe computing. It's not their fault - they just don't know. So as long as there are people who don't go out of their way to find out what constitutes safe computing (and then practise it), these companies are going to make a fortune. Spyware - I've said it before - is more hype than actually being an important issue. People who have spyware on their PCs have (in most cases) put it there themselves, by insisting on downloading every free internet game or program they come across without reading the EULA. Then they run spyware detection / removal software because it's all the rage and find out they have spyware on their PC. That's the price you pay for getting (certain types of) free software. So I'll go out on a limb and say that spyware detection software creators are really making a fortune on our dime. The world's obsession with spyware is akin to accepting candy from a stranger, then acting shocked when we find out that the candy isn't good for you.

Of course. Viruses havent come from nowhere. Individuals or groups make a nasty virus and then there is much money to be made in selling a fix to it . The biggets problems with my computer come from anti virus companies invading the system wuth pop-ups that come up every 30 seconds and slow the system down.

No. I know too much about human nature to think so. HOWEVER, I know that there are also a lot of snake-oil salesmen out there selling something they claim to be AV software. Personally, I don't consider them in the equation; when I think AV, I only think of the serious contenders like Norton, AVG, Avast, and McAfee.