Viruses remove you from control over your computer.
This psychological issue may be more troublesome than the actual damage itself. After all, you bought the computer in order to control it, and in order to demand that it respond to your demands. If a foreign force takes command, then you may feel that you bought a device that is controlled by others, and not by yourself.
A similar issue occurs with terrorist attacks. Yes, they damage life and property, but they are also effective because they give the survivors and the other citizens a feeling of helplessness. Outside forces are in control. They may express concern that acts of terrorism could happen to them next. Those people may suffer from various psychological ailments, even though they have not been directly affected by the attack itself.
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Keywords: Control, Psychology, Security
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