Write Your Own Virus, Programming Skills Not Required


For between $50 and $1000 aspiring (but lazy) pseudo-criminals can get their hands on the latest malicious programs, complete with one year of support and automatic updates to keep everything one step ahead of those pesky virus definitions found in popular protection software. If that’s not good enough, many less-than-reputable hacking groups also offer to write custom scripts.

Perhaps most enticing for these software providers is that with a simple “for educational use” message attached to their kits, they effectively wash their hands of any legal ramifications.

Current estimates put malicious software tools at about 68,000 available, mostly free but more and more are being offered with support and custom coding for those unwilling or unable to take the time to learn.

Cyber crime tool kits go on sale [BBC News]