When a new computer virus strikes, usually in the first article reporting it there will be someone’s assessment of a dollar figure in damages. Whether its lost sales because of down time, lost customers, replacement of hardware, cleaning up of software and databases, or just the labor of the technicians who repair the problem, one computer virus can rack up a big bill in a hurry. But, there is more to assessing the damages than that. Prevention also has a cost. If it were not for the threat of a virus then all the dollars spent on prevention, firewalls, extensive backup plans, and more wouldn’t have to be spent. This money also should be included in any damage assessment.

Even large companies like Rolling Stone magazine has to prepare for the worst. This, from their recent contest for tickets to a White Stripes concert:

Sponsors further reserve the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Sweepstakes in the event the Sweepstakes is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, or technical failures of any kind.

Computer viruses not only affect computers, individuals and companies after the infection… they can have widespread ramifications before an infection ever happens, even if it is just in the planning and prevention department. We all pay for this in the form of higher prices, afterall, these companies have to recoup these expenses somehow.