Is it illegal to use a trojan/virus of some kind for educational purposes?

Aconfusedguy

Honorable
Jun 22, 2013
23
0
10,510
I didn't know where to post this question, and although I've already asked this on other websites, I really want to be sure. I live in Canada, btw.

I'm trying to test the security of my computer by attempting to infect it with viruses and such, but I don't know if it's legal to actually toy with that kind of thing. All of the computers belong to me and it's all being done through my own local network.

?
 

Aconfusedguy

Honorable
Jun 22, 2013
23
0
10,510
AND I already plan to reinstall windows on the computer I plan to test the security of, so that's how I plan to eliminate the possiblity of infecting others through e-mail and such (that's still possible, right?)
 

rdwestgate

Distinguished
Sep 18, 2008
14
0
18,510
As long as nothing is compromised yes. But if any of your work that is damaged causes any issues, or if that trojan/virus gets out and causes any issues, you can be liable for all of that even if your intentions were pure.
 
Probably illegal - as you almost certainly doing something against the licence terms when you agreed to the install of the OS.

But as long as you keep it in your own ecosystem - you probably OK.. but if (by accident or design) it gets out.. you will almost certainly have the authorities after you.

Just my 2 cents.
HTH
Cheers
 

Tmplt

Honorable
Oct 30, 2013
66
0
10,660


If the authorities would go after people that, by accident and/or intentionally, infected any other PC than their own they would have a LOT to do. The majority of malware/trojans etc. lives on by spreading to other computers.

You're free to try it out, man! If you really want to, you can just disconnect your PC from the internet or keep the PCs you want to experiment with in a closed network. But if the case is that you created some kind of super-virus with magical and paranormal powers, and it spreads out in a manner like the Cryptolocker malware does you're in deep trouble.