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Virus Author Motives Changing

Posted by Zonk on from the step-five-profit dept.

Tragamor writes "BBC News is reporting that, with the suspected authors behind the zotob virus recently arrested, they are giving insights into the motivation of modern hackers. With the availability of virus sourcecode, authors are spreading to countries which had previously no history of virus origins." From the article: "What the pair were probably taken aback by was the response that the worm generated. Few virus writers now want to hit the front pages, said Mr Hypponen, most prefer to have their creations sneak under the radar, rack up a few thousand unwitting victims who are then milked for money or saleable data. It appears that Mr Essebar was intending to make money several different ways from the people caught out by the Mytob and Zotob viruses he is alleged to have created. "

3 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Finally! by RAMMS+EIN · · Score: 5, Funny

    ``With the availability of virus sourcecode, authors are spreading to countries which had previously no history of virus origins.''

    Finally! The year of open-source on the desktop has come!

    --
    Please correct me if I got my facts wrong.
  2. What's more.. by ackthpt · · Score: 5, Interesting
    What's more is they didn't even want you to know that sneaking under the radar without being caught was their goal. Seems they failed on that account miserably. So what's the lesson here? Have a virus/worm with a limited life span? After the first n machines have been infected cease spreading?

    Sure as there's imagination there'll be more tactics to come.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  3. Four-words summary by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Before: Fame.
    Now: Fortune.

    'Nuff said.