How to Create a Fake and Harmless Virus

Edited by Guna mcj.

Do you want to play a trick on your friends? This shocking but harmless virus is the best choice to use. Read on to find out how to execute it.

Edit Steps

Building the Virus

1. 1
   Run \WINDOWS\notepad.exe . Do this by clicking Start>All Programs>Accessories>Notepad. You can also enter "notepad" in the "Run" dialog. You would do this by going to %HomePath%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\. This will automatically run the script when the user logs in.
2. 2
   Select to Save as type: keys.
3. 3
   Copy and paste the batch script of the "virus" into the open notepad.
4. 4
   Click the "File>Save As" menu item to save the script.
5. 5
   Select a location to save the Files.
6. 6
   Be creative with the file name. Replace the ".txt'" extension with ".bat" or ".cmd". The language will be interpreted upon clicking.
7. 7
   Click "Save" and close the notepad.
   • If you saved to the Startup folder, you will have to boot into Safe mode and manually remove the script.
   • If you are not an admin, you will not be able to save the file to another user on your own PC.

Making a Fake Icon

1. 1
   Right click on the desktop and go over to "New," then click "Short cut".
2. 2
   For the location of the short cut choose your virus. Click "Next."
3. 3
   Give the shortcut a name that your victim will click on. Click on "Finish".
4. 4
   Right click on the shortcut you have just made and choose "Properties." Click on the "Choose icon" button and scroll through the list of icons.
5. 5
   Choose an icon that fits well to the name. Click on it and hit "OK" twice.
   • This will not work on Windows 7 Pro

Alternate Method For Creating a Virus

1. 1
   Open up a notepad document (Windows only).
2. 2
   Type this code in:
   @echo off
   echo hahahaha im hacking ur computer
   DIR /s
   shutdown.exe
3. 3
   Save the document with an original name and add ".bat" at the end.
4. 4
   Make sure that the "*.txt bar" is changed to "All Files".
5. 5
   Make a shortcut to the virus on the desktop or somewhere else that is not suspicious. Rename the shortcut so the extension is there, (example: make "Play an awesome game for free.bat" to "Play an Awesome game for free").
6. 6
   Change the icon. Go to the properties for the shortcut, then check both tabs for a button saying: "Change Icon". Choose from the list and click "Apply."
   • Sometimes an error will come up if it does then just click "OK."
7. 7
   Now, when somebody clicks on it, a bunch of coding will come up with a message saying "hahahahaha im hacking ur computer". The computer will then be shut down.

Edit Tips

• Alternatively, set your 'virus' to execute every time a user logs in. Navigate to Start > All Programs > Startup (Right-click) > Open and copy the shortcut into the folder that opens. Be careful with the shutdown timer's value. Too short of an interval will make it easy for even the most computer illiterate people to deactivate the virus.
  
  Notes:
• A safe mode boot will halt the Startup and the Registry Run key.
  If you really screwed up, boot a Live Linux distro and mount the hard drive. Once mounted, navigate to that directory and delete the file.

• Running batch files like these in full screen can make them even scarier and more convincing. Right click on the icon and chose properties -> options -> full screen. Do not shutdown the computer too early. It may not scare the victim or may not look like a virus.
• It's even better if you name the virus "Internet Explorer" and change the icon to match. Save it to your desktop and delete the old internet shortcut so if they click to go on the internet, it shuts down on them.

Edit Warnings

• Once this virus has been clicked on, there is often no way to stop it.
• Only do this to someone who can handle such a prank!
• Do not execute such viruses on computers that must be available 24 hours a day, such as the ones in hospitals.
• If you use a shutdown-countdown, you should have enough time to abort the countdown.