Process of developing a virus
The process of developing a virus is very methodical. The author is concerned with creating an effective virus that can be spread easily. The process occurs in six steps:
1. Design. The author envisions and creates the virus. The author may choose to create the virus completely from scratch or use one of the many construction kits that are available to create the virus of their choice.
2. Replication. Once deployed, the new virus spreads through replication: multiplying and then ultimately spreading to different systems. How this process takes place depends on the author’s original intent; but the process can be very rapid, with new systems becoming affected in short order.
3. Launch. The virus starts to do its dirty work by carrying out the task for which it was created (such as destroying data or changing a system’s settings). Once the virus activates through a user action or other predetermined action, the infection begins.
4. Detection. The virus is recognized as such after infecting systems for some period of time. During this phase, the nature of the infection is typically reported to antivirus makers, who begin their initial research into how the software works and how to eradicate it.
5. Incorporation. The antivirus makers determine a way to identify the virus and incorporate the process into their products through updates.
6. Elimination. Users of the antivirus products incorporate the updates into their systems and eliminate the virus.
