Anti-virus technology fails to prevent computers from virus infections. And because it fails, it inadvertently assists many security woes that plague the computer population.

Because viruses spread, hackers find it easier to compromise business computers, identity theft is better enabled and computer fraud is easier to perpetrate. Virus-infected computers become an exploitable resource for hackers, who assemble and control networks of thousands of "zombie" computers, which are used to mount "denial of service" attacks, distribute huge volumes of spam and distribute more viruses.